diff --git a/modules/dunst/README.md b/modules/dunst/README.md
index b30a1691..c7137ee3 100644
--- a/modules/dunst/README.md
+++ b/modules/dunst/README.md
@@ -39,6 +39,24 @@ the account is not logged in.
 | `dunst_rules` | the rules the running notifier holds, and the files they come from |
 | `dunst_count` | shown, waiting, in history, and whether paused |
 
+## Settings
+
+Two preferences have defaults in the definition (novox/hq ADR 0262). The mesh's layer, then a machine's,
+overrides them, and the file is written with the value, never with a variable dunst reads.
+
+| setting | default | what it is |
+|---|---|---|
+| `font-size` | 10 | the points of `font = Inter <size>`; 10 reads well on a screen of about 100 DPI, which is the workstations |
+| `width` | 250 | the notification's width in pixels; a larger font needs a wider notification |
+
+A machine with a denser screen sets both for itself, and the next push writes them:
+
+    mesh-controller.settings {module: "dunst", node: "<machine>", values: '{"font-size": 16, "width": 400}'}
+
+`mesh-controller.settings {module: "dunst", node: "<machine>"}` shows each value and where it came from:
+the default, the mesh, or the machine. dunst reads its file when it starts, and nothing in this module
+tells a running dunst that the file changed: a new size shows at the next login, or after `dunstctl reload`.
+
 ## What it chose, and what it improves
 
 The workstations' files differed: one had the notifications bottom-right, 15 % transparent and with
diff --git a/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_helpers_test.go b/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_helpers_test.go
index 84fe6b64..94cb1520 100644
--- a/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_helpers_test.go
+++ b/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_helpers_test.go
@@ -12,22 +12,30 @@ import (
 // every desktop module that carries it.
 
 type manifest struct {
-	Module       string           `json:"module"`
-	Version      string           `json:"version"`
-	Capabilities []string         `json:"capabilities"`
-	Requires     []string         `json:"requires"`
-	Claims       []claim          `json:"claims"`
-	Seats        []any            `json:"seats"`
-	Tools        []string         `json:"tools"`
-	Emits        []string         `json:"emits"`
-	Environment  *environment     `json:"environment"`
-	Shell        []shellCode      `json:"shell"`
-	Resources    []map[string]any `json:"resources"`
+	Module       string             `json:"module"`
+	Version      string             `json:"version"`
+	Capabilities []string           `json:"capabilities"`
+	Requires     []string           `json:"requires"`
+	Claims       []claim            `json:"claims"`
+	Seats        []any              `json:"seats"`
+	Tools        []string           `json:"tools"`
+	Settings     map[string]setting `json:"settings"`
+	Emits        []string           `json:"emits"`
+	Environment  *environment       `json:"environment"`
+	Shell        []shellCode        `json:"shell"`
+	Resources    []map[string]any   `json:"resources"`
 	Build        struct {
 		Artifacts []map[string]any `json:"artifacts"`
 	} `json:"build"`
 }
 
+// setting is one key's default, as the definition gives it (novox/hq ADR 0262).
+type setting struct {
+	Kind    string `json:"kind"`
+	Default any    `json:"default"`
+	Why     string `json:"why"`
+}
+
 type claim struct {
 	Name   string   `json:"name"`
 	Scope  string   `json:"scope"`
diff --git a/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_test.go b/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_test.go
index 6c7fb3e5..56313353 100644
--- a/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/dunst/cmd/dunst-tools/manifest_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ func TestItOwnsItsFileAndTheDropInDirectory(t *testing.T) {
 func TestTheFileIsTheDecidedOneAndCallsTheSeatsMenu(t *testing.T) {
 	m := readManifest(t)
 	c := m.resource(t, "configuration")["content"].(string)
-	for _, want := range []string{"origin = top-right", "transparency = 0", "corner_radius = 0", "font = Inter 10", "dmenu = dmenu -p dunst"} {
+	for _, want := range []string{"origin = top-right", "transparency = 0", "corner_radius = 0", "font = Inter ${setting:font-size}",
+		"width = ${setting:width}", "dmenu = dmenu -p dunst"} {
 		if !strings.Contains(c, "    "+want+"\n") {
 			t.Errorf("lacks %q", want)
 		}
@@ -55,6 +56,34 @@ func TestTheFileIsTheDecidedOneAndCallsTheSeatsMenu(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// The font size and the width are preferences with today's values as their defaults (novox/hq ADR
+// 0262): a machine with a denser screen sets its own, and every other machine's file is unchanged.
+func TestTheFontSizeAndWidthAreSettingsWithTodaysDefaults(t *testing.T) {
+	m := readManifest(t)
+	want := map[string]float64{"font-size": 10, "width": 250}
+	if len(m.Settings) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("settings: %+v", m.Settings)
+	}
+	for key, value := range want {
+		s, ok := m.Settings[key]
+		if !ok || s.Kind != "preference" || s.Default != value || strings.TrimSpace(s.Why) == "" {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %+v, want a preference defaulting to %v with why", key, s, value)
+		}
+	}
+	// Filled with the defaults, the file is the one every machine had before it took settings.
+	c := m.resource(t, "configuration")["content"].(string)
+	c = strings.ReplaceAll(c, "${setting:font-size}", "10")
+	c = strings.ReplaceAll(c, "${setting:width}", "250")
+	for _, want := range []string{"font = Inter 10", "width = 250"} {
+		if !strings.Contains(c, "    "+want+"\n") {
+			t.Errorf("filled with the defaults, lacks %q", want)
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.Contains(c, "${setting:") {
+		t.Errorf("asks for a setting it gives no default: %s", c)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestNothingStartsItButTheBus(t *testing.T) {
 	m := readManifest(t)
 	if m.Shell != nil {
diff --git a/modules/dunst/files/dunstrc b/modules/dunst/files/dunstrc
index f5044858..d9bc6ad9 100644
--- a/modules/dunst/files/dunstrc
+++ b/modules/dunst/files/dunstrc
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     follow = none
 
     # Geometry
-    width = 250
+    width = ${setting:width}
     height = (0, 300)
     origin = top-right
     offset = (10, 50)
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
     corner_radius = 0
 
     # Text: the interface face (research 026/04)
-    font = Inter 10
+    font = Inter ${setting:font-size}
     line_height = 0
     markup = full
     format = "<b>%s</b>\n%b"
diff --git a/modules/dunst/module.json b/modules/dunst/module.json
index 3f34298b..df8130eb 100644
--- a/modules/dunst/module.json
+++ b/modules/dunst/module.json
@@ -21,6 +21,18 @@
     "dunst_rules",
     "dunst_count"
   ],
+  "settings": {
+    "font-size": {
+      "kind": "preference",
+      "default": 10,
+      "why": "10 points of Inter reads well on a screen of about 100 DPI; a denser screen needs a larger size"
+    },
+    "width": {
+      "kind": "preference",
+      "default": 250,
+      "why": "250 pixels fits a title of about forty characters at 10 points; a larger font needs a wider notification"
+    }
+  },
   "resources": [
     {
       "id": "package",
@@ -52,7 +64,7 @@
       "path": "${machine:account-home}/.config/dunst/dunstrc",
       "owner": "${machine:account}",
       "mode": "0644",
-      "content": "# dunst, the notifier (module dunst, novox/hq ADR 0208). Owned by the mesh: this file is replaced\n# at every push. Adopted from the laptop's file of 2026-10-04 (the two workstations differed in\n# position, transparency and corner radius; the laptop's square, opaque, top-right one matches the\n# rest of the desktop). Only what differs from dunst's defaults, and what the desktop relies on.\n#\n# Other modules' rules go in ~/.config/dunst/dunstrc.d/*.conf, which dunst reads after this file,\n# so a drop-in outranks it. dunst is started by D-Bus on the first notification: nothing starts it.\n\n[global]\n    monitor = 0\n    follow = none\n\n    # Geometry\n    width = 250\n    height = (0, 300)\n    origin = top-right\n    offset = (10, 50)\n    notification_limit = 20\n\n    progress_bar = true\n    progress_bar_height = 10\n    progress_bar_frame_width = 1\n    progress_bar_min_width = 150\n    progress_bar_max_width = 300\n\n    indicate_hidden = yes\n    transparency = 0\n    separator_height = 2\n    padding = 8\n    horizontal_padding = 8\n    text_icon_padding = 0\n    frame_width = 3\n    frame_color = \"#de5200\"\n    gap_size = 0\n    separator_color = frame\n    sort = yes\n    corner_radius = 0\n\n    # Text: the interface face (research 026/04)\n    font = Inter 10\n    line_height = 0\n    markup = full\n    format = \"<b>%s</b>\\n%b\"\n    alignment = left\n    vertical_alignment = center\n    show_age_threshold = 60\n    ellipsize = middle\n    ignore_newline = no\n    stack_duplicates = true\n    hide_duplicate_count = false\n    show_indicators = yes\n\n    # Icons, from the desktop's icon theme\n    enable_recursive_icon_lookup = true\n    icon_theme = Adwaita\n    icon_position = left\n    min_icon_size = 32\n    max_icon_size = 128\n\n    # History\n    sticky_history = yes\n    history_length = 20\n\n    # The context menu is the node's dmenu-compatible command, which the holder of node-launcher\n    # answers (rofi on the workstations). Links open in the desktop's default browser.\n    dmenu = dmenu -p dunst\n    browser = /usr/bin/xdg-open\n    always_run_script = true\n\n    title = Dunst\n    class = Dunst\n    ignore_dbusclose = false\n\n    mouse_left_click = close_current\n    mouse_middle_click = do_action, close_current\n    mouse_right_click = close_all\n\n[urgency_low]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    timeout = 10\n\n[urgency_normal]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    timeout = 10\n\n[urgency_critical]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    frame_color = \"#ff0000\"\n    timeout = 0\n"
+      "content": "# dunst, the notifier (module dunst, novox/hq ADR 0208). Owned by the mesh: this file is replaced\n# at every push. Adopted from the laptop's file of 2026-10-04 (the two workstations differed in\n# position, transparency and corner radius; the laptop's square, opaque, top-right one matches the\n# rest of the desktop). Only what differs from dunst's defaults, and what the desktop relies on.\n#\n# Other modules' rules go in ~/.config/dunst/dunstrc.d/*.conf, which dunst reads after this file,\n# so a drop-in outranks it. dunst is started by D-Bus on the first notification: nothing starts it.\n\n[global]\n    monitor = 0\n    follow = none\n\n    # Geometry\n    width = ${setting:width}\n    height = (0, 300)\n    origin = top-right\n    offset = (10, 50)\n    notification_limit = 20\n\n    progress_bar = true\n    progress_bar_height = 10\n    progress_bar_frame_width = 1\n    progress_bar_min_width = 150\n    progress_bar_max_width = 300\n\n    indicate_hidden = yes\n    transparency = 0\n    separator_height = 2\n    padding = 8\n    horizontal_padding = 8\n    text_icon_padding = 0\n    frame_width = 3\n    frame_color = \"#de5200\"\n    gap_size = 0\n    separator_color = frame\n    sort = yes\n    corner_radius = 0\n\n    # Text: the interface face (research 026/04)\n    font = Inter ${setting:font-size}\n    line_height = 0\n    markup = full\n    format = \"<b>%s</b>\\n%b\"\n    alignment = left\n    vertical_alignment = center\n    show_age_threshold = 60\n    ellipsize = middle\n    ignore_newline = no\n    stack_duplicates = true\n    hide_duplicate_count = false\n    show_indicators = yes\n\n    # Icons, from the desktop's icon theme\n    enable_recursive_icon_lookup = true\n    icon_theme = Adwaita\n    icon_position = left\n    min_icon_size = 32\n    max_icon_size = 128\n\n    # History\n    sticky_history = yes\n    history_length = 20\n\n    # The context menu is the node's dmenu-compatible command, which the holder of node-launcher\n    # answers (rofi on the workstations). Links open in the desktop's default browser.\n    dmenu = dmenu -p dunst\n    browser = /usr/bin/xdg-open\n    always_run_script = true\n\n    title = Dunst\n    class = Dunst\n    ignore_dbusclose = false\n\n    mouse_left_click = close_current\n    mouse_middle_click = do_action, close_current\n    mouse_right_click = close_all\n\n[urgency_low]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    timeout = 10\n\n[urgency_normal]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    timeout = 10\n\n[urgency_critical]\n    background = \"#000000\"\n    foreground = \"#ffffff\"\n    frame_color = \"#ff0000\"\n    timeout = 0\n"
     }
   ],
   "build": {