Let an installation seed and lock user settings

The first two thirds of #207. A school wanting "warn about outside senders"
on for three thousand pupils cannot ask three thousand pupils, and the
reporter is right that this is a company policy rather than a preference.

Two powers, and the difference between them is the whole request. `defaults`
seed an account that has never had settings of its own and can be changed
afterwards like anything else -- a starting point, not a rule. `enforced` are
reapplied on every load and cannot be changed at all.

Enforced controls stay visible and go dead, with a line saying why. The issue
asked for that by name: a control that is simply missing reads as a bug to
somebody who has used ihasmail without a policy.

The lock is in the settings store rather than only on the controls. There is
one door -- `update` -- and putting it there means an imported settings file,
a settings file synced from a device that predates the policy, and a control
somebody adds later and forgets to check are all covered by construction.
Reset goes back to the installation's answer rather than to ihasmail's, so it
cannot be a way around a policy either.

Configured by environment variable or by a file, because ihasmail's own
production runs read-only with no volume: an installation that cannot mount a
file can still set a variable. Keys this build does not have are dropped, the
same rule an imported settings file already gets -- a policy written against a
newer ihasmail must not put a setting nothing reads into everybody's synced
settings file. Malformed JSON stops the server rather than quietly doing
nothing, since a policy that silently did not apply is indistinguishable from
the feature not working.

Tier three -- enforcing a setting once while still letting readers change it
afterwards -- is not here. It needs a decision the reporter and I have not
made yet, and it is the only part that stores anything new.

Refs #207.

README.md

@@ -117,6 +117,46 @@ nowhere to live across a restart. Removing it means moving the session upstream
 into a token Stalwart itself issues and can revoke, which is what the OAuth work
 in [ROADMAP.md](ROADMAP.md) is for.
 
+### Settings the installation decides
+
+A deployment can seed and lock user settings, which is what a school wanting
+"warn about outside senders" on for three thousand pupils needs — asking three
+thousand pupils is not a plan.
+
+```bash
+-e SETTINGS_DEFAULTS='{"externalSenderBanner":true}' \
+-e SETTINGS_ENFORCED='{"externalRecipientConfirm":true}'
+```
+
+Or, where mounting a file is easier than quoting JSON in a unit file:
+
+```bash
+-e SETTINGS_POLICY_FILE=/etc/ihasmail/policy.json
+```
+
+```json
+{
+  "defaults":  { "externalSenderBanner": true },
+  "enforced":  { "externalRecipientConfirm": true }
+}
+```
+
+The two are different powers. **`defaults`** seed an account that has never had
+settings of its own; the reader can change any of them afterwards, and they are
+a starting point rather than a rule. **`enforced`** are reapplied on every load
+and cannot be changed at all — their controls stay visible in Settings and go
+dead with a line saying why, because a control that is simply missing reads as a
+bug to anyone who has used ihasmail without a policy.
+
+Both are given in the same names and values a settings export uses, so
+`Settings → General → Export` on a configured account is the quickest way to
+write one. Keys this build does not have are ignored rather than stored, and
+malformed JSON stops the server at startup rather than silently doing nothing.
+
+Enforcement is applied in the settings store rather than only on the controls,
+so an imported settings file or a settings file synced from a device that
+predates the policy cannot get around it.
+
 ## Architecture
 
 ```

server/src/app.ts

@@ -175,6 +175,9 @@ export function createApp(basePath = config.basePath): Hono<Env> {
       sourceUrl: config.sourceUrl,
       imageProxy: config.imageProxy,
       maxUploadBytes: config.maxUploadBytes,
+      /* Sent before sign-in like the rest of this: it says what the
+         installation has decided, not anything about who is asking. */
+      settingsPolicy: config.settingsPolicy,
     }),
   );
 

server/src/config.ts

@@ -111,9 +111,56 @@ export function assertImmutable(sessionFile: string, root: string): void {
 if (immutable) assertImmutable(sessionFile, fileURLToPath(new URL("../..", import.meta.url)));
 
 
+/**
+ * Settings an installation decides, rather than each reader.
+ *
+ * A school turning on "warn about outside senders" for three thousand pupils
+ * cannot ask three thousand pupils to turn it on -- issue #207. Two sections,
+ * which are two different powers:
+ *
+ * - `defaults` seed an account that has never had settings of its own. The
+ *   reader can change any of them afterwards; they are a starting point, not a
+ *   rule.
+ * - `enforced` are applied on every load and cannot be changed here at all. The
+ *   controls stay visible and go dead, which the issue asked for by name: a
+ *   missing control confuses somebody who has used ihasmail elsewhere.
+ *
+ * Read from a file or straight from the environment, because ihasmail's own
+ * production runs read-only with no volume -- an installation that cannot mount
+ * a file can still set a variable.
+ */
+function readSettingsPolicy(): { defaults: Record<string, unknown>; enforced: Record<string, unknown> } {
+  const parse = (raw: string, where: string): Record<string, unknown> => {
+    try {
+      const v = JSON.parse(raw) as unknown;
+      if (!v || typeof v !== "object" || Array.isArray(v)) throw new Error("not a JSON object");
+      return v as Record<string, unknown>;
+    } catch (err) {
+      /* Loud, and fatal. A policy that silently did not apply would look like
+         the feature not working, and the admin would have no way to tell. */
+      throw new Error(`Invalid ${where}: ${(err as Error).message}`);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const file = process.env.SETTINGS_POLICY_FILE;
+  if (file) {
+    if (!existsSync(file)) throw new Error(`SETTINGS_POLICY_FILE does not exist: ${file}`);
+    const whole = parse(readFileSync(file, "utf8"), `SETTINGS_POLICY_FILE (${file})`);
+    return {
+      defaults: (whole.defaults as Record<string, unknown>) ?? {},
+      enforced: (whole.enforced as Record<string, unknown>) ?? {},
+    };
+  }
+  return {
+    defaults: process.env.SETTINGS_DEFAULTS ? parse(process.env.SETTINGS_DEFAULTS, "SETTINGS_DEFAULTS") : {},
+    enforced: process.env.SETTINGS_ENFORCED ? parse(process.env.SETTINGS_ENFORCED, "SETTINGS_ENFORCED") : {},
+  };
+}
+
 export const config = {
   isProd,
   appName: env("APP_NAME", "ihasmail"),
+  settingsPolicy: readSettingsPolicy(),
   /**
    * What this build calls itself: `2.16.57`. Set by the image build from
    * `--build-arg IHASMAIL_VERSION`, since `.dockerignore` keeps `.git` out of

web/src/App.tsx

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import { ComposerDock } from "@/views/compose/ComposerDock";
 import { setUnreadBadge } from "@/lib/notify";
 import { PAINTED_FROM_CACHE, useSettings, syncedPart } from "@/store/settings";
 import { armSettingsSync, loadRemoteSettings, queueSettingsPush, settingsAlreadyLoadedFor, settingsSyncAvailable } from "@/lib/settingsSync";
+import { loadSettingsPolicy } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 import { listenForVerification, renewWebPush } from "@/lib/webpushEnable";
 import { useLanguageVersion, whenLanguageReady } from "@/lib/i18n";
 import { confirmLeaveUnsaved, hasUnsavedChanges } from "@/lib/unsavedChanges";
@@ -145,9 +146,17 @@ function AuthedApp() {
     }
     let cancelled = false;
     void (async () => {
+      /* Before the account's own settings, so both the seeding below and the
+         enforcement inside `hydrate` have something to apply. */
+      await loadSettingsPolicy();
+      if (cancelled) return;
       const remote = await loadRemoteSettings();
       if (cancelled) return;
       if (remote) useSettings.getState().hydrate(remote);
+      // No settings file: this account has never had settings of its own, so
+      // the installation's defaults are what it starts on rather than
+      // ihasmail's. Issue #207.
+      else useSettings.getState().seedFromPolicy();
       // The catalogue for whatever language that turned out to be. Hydrating
       // asks for it; this is waiting for the answer.
       await whenLanguageReady();

web/src/lib/settingsPolicy.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import { withBase } from "@/lib/basePath";
+import { DEFAULT_SETTINGS, type Settings } from "@/store/settings";
+
+/**
+ * What the installation has decided about settings, rather than the reader.
+ *
+ * Two powers, from #207. `defaults` seed an account that has never had settings
+ * of its own and can be changed afterwards like anything else. `enforced` are
+ * applied on every load and cannot be changed here at all -- their controls stay
+ * visible and go dead, which is what the issue asked for: hiding them confuses
+ * somebody who has used ihasmail somewhere without a policy.
+ *
+ * Fetched once. `/api/config` is unauthenticated and already fetched by the
+ * sign-in page, so this costs nothing on a cold load and is available before
+ * anybody's settings are read.
+ */
+export interface SettingsPolicy {
+  defaults: Partial<Settings>;
+  enforced: Partial<Settings>;
+}
+
+const EMPTY: SettingsPolicy = { defaults: {}, enforced: {} };
+
+let policy: SettingsPolicy = EMPTY;
+let fetched: Promise<SettingsPolicy> | null = null;
+
+/**
+ * Keys the installation names that this build does not have.
+ *
+ * A policy written against a newer ihasmail, or with a typo in it, must not
+ * introduce a setting that nothing reads: `update` would carry it around and
+ * `syncedPart` would push it to the reader's settings file for ever. Anything
+ * not in `DEFAULT_SETTINGS` is dropped, which is the same rule `importJson`
+ * already applies to a settings file somebody hands us.
+ */
+function known(obj: Record<string, unknown>): Partial<Settings> {
+  const out: Record<string, unknown> = {};
+  for (const [k, v] of Object.entries(obj)) if (k in DEFAULT_SETTINGS) out[k] = v;
+  return out as Partial<Settings>;
+}
+
+export async function loadSettingsPolicy(): Promise<SettingsPolicy> {
+  if (fetched) return fetched;
+  fetched = (async () => {
+    try {
+      const res = await fetch(withBase("/api/config"), { credentials: "same-origin" });
+      if (!res.ok) return EMPTY;
+      const body = (await res.json()) as { settingsPolicy?: { defaults?: Record<string, unknown>; enforced?: Record<string, unknown> } };
+      policy = {
+        defaults: known(body.settingsPolicy?.defaults ?? {}),
+        enforced: known(body.settingsPolicy?.enforced ?? {}),
+      };
+      return policy;
+    } catch {
+      /* No policy is the ordinary case and an unreachable one must not stop a
+         sign-in: an installation that sets nothing looks exactly like this. */
+      return EMPTY;
+    }
+  })();
+  return fetched;
+}
+
+/** What the installation has settled, for a reader who has none of their own. */
+export function policyDefaults(): Partial<Settings> {
+  return policy.defaults;
+}
+
+/** What the installation has settled that a reader may not change. */
+export function policyEnforced(): Partial<Settings> {
+  return policy.enforced;
+}
+
+/** Whether this setting belongs to the administrator rather than the reader. */
+export function isEnforced(key: keyof Settings): boolean {
+  return key in policy.enforced;
+}
+
+/** Only for tests: forget what was fetched. */
+export function resetSettingsPolicyForTest(next: SettingsPolicy = EMPTY): void {
+  policy = { defaults: known(next.defaults as Record<string, unknown>), enforced: known(next.enforced as Record<string, unknown>) };
+  fetched = Promise.resolve(policy);
+}

web/src/locales/de.ts

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Für alle hier festgelegt. Sie können dies nicht ändern.",
     "Export iCAL file": "iCAL-Datei exportieren",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Dieser Kalender konnte nicht exportiert werden: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/es.ts

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Definido para todos aquí. No puedes cambiarlo.",
     "Export iCAL file": "Exportar archivo iCAL",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "No se pudo exportar este calendario: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/fr.ts

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Défini pour tout le monde ici. Vous ne pouvez pas le modifier.",
     "Export iCAL file": "Exporter un fichier iCAL",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Impossible d’exporter ce calendrier : {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/ja.ts

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "この環境全体で設定されています。変更できません。",
     "Export iCAL file": "iCAL ファイルをエクスポート",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "このカレンダーをエクスポートできませんでした: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/nl.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Hier voor iedereen ingesteld. U kunt dit niet wijzigen.",
     "Export iCAL file": "iCAL-bestand exporteren",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Kon deze agenda niet exporteren: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/pt-BR.ts

@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Definido para todos aqui. Você não pode alterar isto.",
     "Export iCAL file": "Exportar arquivo iCAL",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Não foi possível exportar esta agenda: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/ru.ts

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Задано для всех здесь. Изменить нельзя.",
     "Export iCAL file": "Экспортировать файл iCAL",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Не удалось экспортировать этот календарь: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/uk.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "Задано для всіх тут. Змінити не можна.",
     "Export iCAL file": "Експортувати файл iCAL",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "Не вдалося експортувати цей календар: {error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/locales/zh-Hans.ts

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import type { Catalog } from "@/lib/i18n";
  */
 export const catalog: Catalog = {
   strings: {
+    "Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.": "已为此处所有人设定，您无法更改。",
     "Export iCAL file": "导出 iCAL 文件",
     "Could not export this calendar: {error}": "无法导出此日历：{error}",
     // ── Actions ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

web/src/store/__tests__/settings-policy.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { DEFAULT_SETTINGS, useSettings } from "@/store/settings";
+import { isEnforced, policyDefaults, policyEnforced, resetSettingsPolicyForTest } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
+
+/*
+ * Settings an installation decides, from #207.
+ *
+ * A school turning on "warn about outside senders" for three thousand pupils
+ * cannot ask three thousand pupils. Two powers, and the difference between them
+ * is the whole point: defaults are a starting point the reader may change,
+ * enforced settings are not.
+ */
+
+vi.mock("@/lib/settingsSync", () => ({
+  queueSettingsPush: vi.fn(),
+  pendingSettingsKeys: () => new Set<string>(),
+}));
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  resetSettingsPolicyForTest();
+  useSettings.setState({ settings: { ...DEFAULT_SETTINGS } });
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  resetSettingsPolicyForTest();
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe("what the installation has decided", () => {
+  it("keeps to the settings this build actually has", () => {
+    /*
+     * A policy written against a newer ihasmail, or with a typo in it, must not
+     * introduce a key nothing reads: it would be carried around and pushed to
+     * the reader's settings file for ever. Same rule an imported settings file
+     * already gets.
+     */
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({
+      defaults: { conversationMode: false, notARealSetting: true } as never,
+      enforced: { alsoNotReal: 1 } as never,
+    });
+    expect(policyDefaults()).toEqual({ conversationMode: false });
+    expect(policyEnforced()).toEqual({});
+  });
+
+  it("says which settings belong to the administrator", () => {
+    // The setting the issue was actually about: the outside-sender banner.
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: {}, enforced: { externalSenderBanner: true } as never });
+    expect(isEnforced("externalSenderBanner")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isEnforced("conversationMode")).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("defaults, for an account that has none of its own", () => {
+  it("seeds them", () => {
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: { conversationMode: false } as never, enforced: {} });
+    useSettings.getState().seedFromPolicy();
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("leaves everything it does not name alone", () => {
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: { conversationMode: false } as never, enforced: {} });
+    useSettings.getState().seedFromPolicy();
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.showAvatars).toBe(DEFAULT_SETTINGS.showAvatars);
+  });
+
+  it("can still be changed afterwards, being a starting point and not a rule", () => {
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: { conversationMode: false } as never, enforced: {} });
+    useSettings.getState().seedFromPolicy();
+    useSettings.getState().update({ conversationMode: true });
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("does nothing at all when the installation has set none", () => {
+    const before = useSettings.getState().settings;
+    useSettings.getState().seedFromPolicy();
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings).toBe(before);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("enforced settings, which the reader may not change", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: {}, enforced: { conversationMode: true } as never });
+  });
+
+  it("survives an update that tries to change it", () => {
+    useSettings.getState().update({ conversationMode: false });
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("does not stop the rest of that same update", () => {
+    // The one key is refused; the others are the reader's business.
+    useSettings.getState().update({ conversationMode: false, showAvatars: false });
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.showAvatars).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("survives a settings file arriving from another device", () => {
+    // An older sign-in wrote past the policy before it existed. Hydrating must
+    // not put that back.
+    useSettings.getState().hydrate({ conversationMode: false, showAvatars: false });
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.showAvatars).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("survives a reset", () => {
+    // Resetting must not be the way around a policy.
+    useSettings.getState().reset();
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("survives an imported settings file", () => {
+    useSettings.getState().importJson(JSON.stringify({ conversationMode: false }));
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("reset, where the installation has chosen defaults", () => {
+  it("goes back to the installation's answer rather than to ihasmail's", () => {
+    resetSettingsPolicyForTest({ defaults: { conversationMode: false } as never, enforced: {} });
+    useSettings.getState().update({ conversationMode: true });
+    useSettings.getState().reset();
+    expect(useSettings.getState().settings.conversationMode).toBe(false);
+  });
+});

web/src/store/settings.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { hasCachedJson, loadJson, saveJson } from "@/lib/storage";
 import { effectiveMode, legacyTheme, migrateTheme, type Mode, type PaletteId } from "@/lib/palette";
 import type { SortLevel, SortPreset } from "@/lib/listSort";
 import { pendingSettingsKeys, queueSettingsPush } from "@/lib/settingsSync";
+import { policyDefaults, policyEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 import { setDateTimePrefs, setUiLanguageForFormatting, type DateFormat, type TimeFormat } from "@/lib/datetime";
 import type { SwipeAction } from "@/lib/swipe";
 import { resolveUiLanguage } from "@/lib/languages";
@@ -402,6 +403,14 @@ interface SettingsState {
   importJson(json: string): boolean;
   /** Apply the account's settings file over the cached ones. */
   hydrate(remote: Record<string, unknown>): void;
+  /**
+   * Seed an account that has never had settings of its own.
+   *
+   * Only for that case, which is why it is not `update`: these are a starting
+   * point the reader may change, so applying them to somebody who already has
+   * settings would be overwriting choices rather than defaulting them.
+   */
+  seedFromPolicy(): void;
 }
 
 const initialSettings = loadJson<Settings>("settings", DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
@@ -428,7 +437,14 @@ export const useSettings = create<SettingsState>((set, get) => ({
      * change the theme cannot forget to update it and strand an older device
      * on a theme nobody picked.
      */
-    const merged = { ...get().settings, ...patch };
+    /*
+     * Enforcement lives here rather than only on the controls. The controls are
+     * disabled and say why, which is the part a reader sees -- but a setting
+     * the installation has decided must not be changeable through an imported
+     * settings file, a keyboard shortcut, or a control somebody adds later and
+     * forgets to check. There is one door, so the lock is on it. Issue #207.
+     */
+    const merged = { ...get().settings, ...patch, ...policyEnforced() };
     const prefersDark = Boolean(window.matchMedia?.("(prefers-color-scheme: dark)").matches);
     const settings = { ...merged, theme: legacyTheme({ palette: merged.palette, mode: merged.mode }, prefersDark) };
     saveJson("settings", settings);
@@ -442,13 +458,22 @@ export const useSettings = create<SettingsState>((set, get) => ({
       queueSettingsPush(syncedPart(settings));
     }
   },
+  seedFromPolicy() {
+    const defaults = policyDefaults();
+    if (!Object.keys(defaults).length) return;
+    get().update(defaults);
+  },
   reset() {
-    saveJson("settings", DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
+    /* Back to how this installation starts an account, not to how ihasmail
-    set({ settings: DEFAULT_SETTINGS });
+       starts one: resetting must not be a way around a policy, and the defaults
-    applyTheme(DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
+       an admin chose are the honest meaning of "reset" where there are any. */
-    applyDateTimePrefs(DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
+    const base = { ...DEFAULT_SETTINGS, ...policyDefaults(), ...policyEnforced() };
-    applyLang(DEFAULT_SETTINGS);
+    saveJson("settings", base);
-    queueSettingsPush(syncedPart(DEFAULT_SETTINGS));
+    set({ settings: base });
+    applyTheme(base);
+    applyDateTimePrefs(base);
+    applyLang(base);
+    queueSettingsPush(syncedPart(base));
   },
   exportJson() {
     return JSON.stringify(get().settings, null, 2);
@@ -463,7 +488,10 @@ export const useSettings = create<SettingsState>((set, get) => ({
     }
   },
   hydrate(remote) {
-    const settings = mergeRemote(get().settings, remote, pendingSettingsKeys());
+    /* Enforced values win over what the account's own file says: a policy that
+       an older sign-in has already written past would otherwise stay written
+       past for ever. */
+    const settings = { ...mergeRemote(get().settings, remote, pendingSettingsKeys()), ...policyEnforced() };
     // Cache it, so the next first frame on this browser is already right.
     saveJson("settings", settings);
     set({ settings });

web/src/ui/misc.tsx

@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ export function Avatar({ who, size, className }: { who: EmailAddress | { name?:
   );
 }
 
-export function Switch({ checked, onChange, label, hint, disabled }: { checked: boolean; onChange: (v: boolean) => void; label?: ReactNode; hint?: ReactNode; disabled?: boolean }) {
+export function Switch({ checked, onChange, label, hint, disabled, locked }: { checked: boolean; onChange: (v: boolean) => void; label?: ReactNode; hint?: ReactNode; disabled?: boolean; locked?: boolean }) {
   const sw = (
-    <button type="button" role="switch" aria-checked={checked} className="switch" onClick={() => !disabled && onChange(!checked)} disabled={disabled} />
+    <button type="button" role="switch" aria-checked={checked} className="switch" onClick={() => !disabled && !locked && onChange(!checked)} disabled={disabled || locked} />
   );
   if (!label) return sw;
   return (
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ export function Switch({ checked, onChange, label, hint, disabled }: { checked:
       <div className="switch-text">
         <span>{label}</span>
         {hint && <span className="hint">{hint}</span>}
+        {/* Shown rather than hidden, and said rather than implied: a control
+            that is simply missing reads as a bug to somebody who has used
+            ihasmail without a policy. Issue #207. */}
+        {locked && <span className="hint">{t("Set for everyone here. You cannot change this.")}</span>}
       </div>
       {sw}
     </div>

web/src/views/settings/AppearanceSettings.tsx

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { Switch, useIsTouch } from "@/ui/misc";
 import { SWIPE_CHOICES, type SwipeAction } from "@/lib/swipe";
 import { TRANSLATION_ISSUE_URL, UI_LANGUAGES } from "@/lib/languages";
 import { t as translate, tNode } from "@/lib/i18n";
+import { isEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 
 /**
  * A swatch for each palette, drawn from the colours that palette actually
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ export function AppearanceSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{translate("Display density")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.density} onChange={(e) => update({ density: e.target.value as typeof s.density })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("density")} className="select" value={s.density} onChange={(e) => update({ density: e.target.value as typeof s.density })}>
             <option value="comfortable">{translate("Comfortable")}</option>
             <option value="cozy">{translate("Cozy (default)")}</option>
             <option value="compact">{translate("Compact")}</option>
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ export function AppearanceSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{translate("Text size")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.fontSize} onChange={(e) => update({ fontSize: e.target.value as typeof s.fontSize })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("fontSize")} className="select" value={s.fontSize} onChange={(e) => update({ fontSize: e.target.value as typeof s.fontSize })}>
             <option value="small">{translate("Small")}</option>
             <option value="medium">{translate("Medium")}</option>
             <option value="large">{translate("Large")}</option>
@@ -192,9 +193,9 @@ export function AppearanceSettings() {
       </p>
 
       <h2>{translate("Sidebar")}</h2>
-      <Switch checked={s.labelsSidebar} onChange={(v) => update({ labelsSidebar: v })} label={translate("Show labels in the sidebar")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("labelsSidebar")} checked={s.labelsSidebar} onChange={(v) => update({ labelsSidebar: v })} label={translate("Show labels in the sidebar")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.showHiddenFolders} onChange={(v) => update({ showHiddenFolders: v })} label={translate("Show unsubscribed (hidden) folders")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("showHiddenFolders")} checked={s.showHiddenFolders} onChange={(v) => update({ showHiddenFolders: v })} label={translate("Show unsubscribed (hidden) folders")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.sidebarCollapsed} onChange={(v) => update({ sidebarCollapsed: v })} label={translate("Collapse sidebar to icons")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("sidebarCollapsed")} checked={s.sidebarCollapsed} onChange={(v) => update({ sidebarCollapsed: v })} label={translate("Collapse sidebar to icons")} />
     </div>
   );
 }

web/src/views/settings/CalendarSettings.tsx

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { ColorSwatches, CALENDAR_COLORS, Switch } from "@/ui/misc";
 import { promptDialog } from "@/ui/dialog";
 import { Plus, Trash2 } from "lucide-react";
 import { t } from "@/lib/i18n";
+import { isEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 
 export function CalendarSettings() {
   const s = useSettings((st) => st.settings);
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ export function CalendarSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Default view")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.calendarDefaultView} onChange={(e) => update({ calendarDefaultView: e.target.value as typeof s.calendarDefaultView })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("calendarDefaultView")} className="select" value={s.calendarDefaultView} onChange={(e) => update({ calendarDefaultView: e.target.value as typeof s.calendarDefaultView })}>
             <option value="day">{t("Day")}</option>
             <option value="week">{t("Week")}</option>
             <option value="month">{t("Month")}</option>
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ export function CalendarSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Default event length")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.defaultEventDuration)} onChange={(e) => update({ defaultEventDuration: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("defaultEventDuration")} className="select" value={String(s.defaultEventDuration)} onChange={(e) => update({ defaultEventDuration: Number(e.target.value) })}>
             <option value="15">{t("15 minutes")}</option>
             <option value="30">{t("30 minutes")}</option>
             <option value="45">{t("45 minutes")}</option>
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ export function CalendarSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Default reminder")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.defaultAlertMinutes)} onChange={(e) => update({ defaultAlertMinutes: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("defaultAlertMinutes")} className="select" value={String(s.defaultAlertMinutes)} onChange={(e) => update({ defaultAlertMinutes: Number(e.target.value) })}>
             <option value="-1">{t("None")}</option>
             <option value="0">{t("At time of event")}</option>
             <option value="5">{t("5 minutes before")}</option>
@@ -116,19 +117,19 @@ export function CalendarSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Working hours start")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.workDayStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ workDayStart: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("workDayStart")} className="select" value={String(s.workDayStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ workDayStart: Number(e.target.value) })}>
             {[...Array(24)].map((_, h) => <option key={h} value={h}>{`${h}:00`}</option>)}
           </select>
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Working hours end")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.workDayEnd)} onChange={(e) => update({ workDayEnd: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("workDayEnd")} className="select" value={String(s.workDayEnd)} onChange={(e) => update({ workDayEnd: Number(e.target.value) })}>
             {[...Array(25)].map((_, h) => <option key={h} value={h}>{`${h}:00`}</option>)}
           </select>
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Week starts on")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.weekStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ weekStart: Number(e.target.value) as 0 | 1 | 6 })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("weekStart")} className="select" value={String(s.weekStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ weekStart: Number(e.target.value) as 0 | 1 | 6 })}>
             <option value="1">{t("Monday")}</option>
             <option value="0">{t("Sunday")}</option>
             <option value="6">{t("Saturday")}</option>

web/src/views/settings/GeneralSettings.tsx

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import {
   withPrefs,
   type DateFormat,
 } from "@/lib/datetime";
+import { isEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 
 /** Illustrative instant used for the format previews: 22 Nov 2025, 18:23. */
 const SAMPLE = new Date(2025, 10, 22, 18, 23);
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Reading pane")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.readingPane} onChange={(e) => update({ readingPane: e.target.value as typeof s.readingPane })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("readingPane")} className="select" value={s.readingPane} onChange={(e) => update({ readingPane: e.target.value as typeof s.readingPane })}>
             <option value="right">{t("Right of the list")}</option>
             <option value="bottom">{t("Below the list")}</option>
             <option value="off">{t("Off (open messages full width)")}</option>
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Mark as read")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.markReadDelay)} onChange={(e) => update({ markReadDelay: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("markReadDelay")} className="select" value={String(s.markReadDelay)} onChange={(e) => update({ markReadDelay: Number(e.target.value) })}>
             <option value="0">{t("Immediately when opened")}</option>
             <option value="2">{t("After 2 seconds")}</option>
             <option value="5">{t("After 5 seconds")}</option>
@@ -86,21 +87,21 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("After archiving or deleting")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.autoAdvance} onChange={(e) => update({ autoAdvance: e.target.value as typeof s.autoAdvance })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("autoAdvance")} className="select" value={s.autoAdvance} onChange={(e) => update({ autoAdvance: e.target.value as typeof s.autoAdvance })}>
             <option value="list">{t("Go back to the list")}</option>
             <option value="older">{t("Open the next (older) conversation")}</option>
             <option value="newer">{t("Open the previous (newer) conversation")}</option>
           </select>
         </div>
       </div>
-      <Switch checked={s.conversationMode} onChange={(v) => update({ conversationMode: v })} label={t("Conversation view")} hint={t("Group messages from the same thread together.")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("conversationMode")} checked={s.conversationMode} onChange={(v) => update({ conversationMode: v })} label={t("Conversation view")} hint={t("Group messages from the same thread together.")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.showPreview} onChange={(v) => update({ showPreview: v })} label={t("Show message snippets")} hint={t("Preview the first line of each message in the list.")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("showPreview")} checked={s.showPreview} onChange={(v) => update({ showPreview: v })} label={t("Show message snippets")} hint={t("Preview the first line of each message in the list.")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.showAvatars} onChange={(v) => update({ showAvatars: v })} label={t("Show sender avatars")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("showAvatars")} checked={s.showAvatars} onChange={(v) => update({ showAvatars: v })} label={t("Show sender avatars")} />
 
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Message order")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.listSortPreset} onChange={(e) => update({ listSortPreset: e.target.value as SortPreset })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("listSortPreset")} className="select" value={s.listSortPreset} onChange={(e) => update({ listSortPreset: e.target.value as SortPreset })}>
             <option value="newest">{t("Newest first")}</option>
             <option value="oldest">{t("Oldest first")}</option>
             <option value="unreadFirst">{t("Unread first")}</option>
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Applies to")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.listSortScope} onChange={(e) => update({ listSortScope: e.target.value as "inbox" | "all" })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("listSortScope")} className="select" value={s.listSortScope} onChange={(e) => update({ listSortScope: e.target.value as "inbox" | "all" })}>
             <option value="inbox">{t("The Inbox only")}</option>
             <option value="all">{t("Every folder")}</option>
           </select>
@@ -172,15 +173,15 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Default format")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.composeFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ composeFormat: e.target.value as typeof s.composeFormat })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("composeFormat")} className="select" value={s.composeFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ composeFormat: e.target.value as typeof s.composeFormat })}>
             <option value="html">{t("Rich text (HTML)")}</option>
             <option value="text">{t("Plain text")}</option>
           </select>
         </div>
       </div>
-      <Switch checked={s.includeQuote} onChange={(v) => update({ includeQuote: v })} label={t("Quote original message in replies")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("includeQuote")} checked={s.includeQuote} onChange={(v) => update({ includeQuote: v })} label={t("Quote original message in replies")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.signatureAboveQuote} onChange={(v) => update({ signatureAboveQuote: v })} label={t("Place signature above quoted text")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("signatureAboveQuote")} checked={s.signatureAboveQuote} onChange={(v) => update({ signatureAboveQuote: v })} label={t("Place signature above quoted text")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.spellcheck} onChange={(v) => update({ spellcheck: v })} label={t("Spell check while typing")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("spellcheck")} checked={s.spellcheck} onChange={(v) => update({ spellcheck: v })} label={t("Spell check while typing")} />
 
       <h2>{t("Locale")}</h2>
       <div className="field-row">
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Week starts on")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={String(s.weekStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ weekStart: Number(e.target.value) as 0 | 1 | 6 })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("weekStart")} className="select" value={String(s.weekStart)} onChange={(e) => update({ weekStart: Number(e.target.value) as 0 | 1 | 6 })}>
             <option value="1">{t("Monday")}</option>
             <option value="0">{t("Sunday")}</option>
             <option value="6">{t("Saturday")}</option>
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
       <div className="field-row">
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Language & region")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.locale} onChange={(e) => update({ locale: e.target.value })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("locale")} className="select" value={s.locale} onChange={(e) => update({ locale: e.target.value })}>
             <option value="">{t("Automatic ({locale})", { locale: localeLabel(autoLocale) })}</option>
             {localeOptions().map((o) => <option key={o.tag} value={o.tag}>{o.label} — {o.tag}</option>)}
           </select>
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Date format")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.dateFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ dateFormat: e.target.value as DateFormat })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("dateFormat")} className="select" value={s.dateFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ dateFormat: e.target.value as DateFormat })}>
             {DATE_FORMATS.map((f) => (
               <option key={f.value} value={f.value}>
                 {t(f.label)} ({withPrefs({ locale: s.locale, dateFormat: f.value }, () => formatDate(SAMPLE))})
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ export function GeneralSettings() {
         </div>
         <div className="field">
           <label>{t("Time format")}</label>
-          <select className="select" value={s.timeFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ timeFormat: e.target.value as typeof s.timeFormat })}>
+          <select disabled={isEnforced("timeFormat")} className="select" value={s.timeFormat} onChange={(e) => update({ timeFormat: e.target.value as typeof s.timeFormat })}>
             <option value="auto">{t("Automatic ({example})", { example: withPrefs({ locale: s.locale, timeFormat: "auto" }, () => formatClock(SAMPLE)) })}</option>
             <option value="24">{t("24-hour clock (18:23)")}</option>
             <option value="12">{t("12-hour clock (6:23 PM)")}</option>

web/src/views/settings/NotificationsSettings.tsx

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { disableWebPush, enableWebPush, webPushActive } from "@/lib/webpushEnabl
 import { supportsEmailPush, webPushAvailable } from "@/lib/webpush";
 import { toast } from "@/ui/toast";
 import { t } from "@/lib/i18n";
+import { isEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 
 export function NotificationsSettings() {
   const s = useSettings((st) => st.settings);
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ export function NotificationsSettings() {
               : t("Your mail server can wake this browser, but will not include the sender or subject. Your browser still has to be running.")
         }
       />
-      <Switch checked={s.notificationSound} onChange={(v) => update({ notificationSound: v })} label={t("Play a sound for new mail")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("notificationSound")} checked={s.notificationSound} onChange={(v) => update({ notificationSound: v })} label={t("Play a sound for new mail")} />
       <div className="row mt-16">
         <button className="btn" onClick={() => { showNotification(t("ihasmail test"), { body: t("This is what a new-mail notification looks like.") }); playNewMailSound(); }}>{t("Test notification")}</button>
       </div>

web/src/views/settings/PrivacySettings.tsx

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { domainOf } from "@/lib/address";
 import { Switch } from "@/ui/misc";
 import { X } from "lucide-react";
 import { t } from "@/lib/i18n";
+import { isEnforced } from "@/lib/settingsPolicy";
 
 /**
  * Everything about what reaches a sender, and what asks before it happens.
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ export function PrivacySettings() {
       <h2>{t("Remote content")}</h2>
       <div className="field">
         <label>{t("Remote images")}</label>
-        <select className="select" value={s.imagePolicy} onChange={(e) => update({ imagePolicy: e.target.value as typeof s.imagePolicy })}>
+        <select disabled={isEnforced("imagePolicy")} className="select" value={s.imagePolicy} onChange={(e) => update({ imagePolicy: e.target.value as typeof s.imagePolicy })}>
           <option value="ask">{t("Ask before showing (recommended)")}</option>
           <option value="contacts">{t("Show automatically from my contacts")}</option>
           <option value="always">{t("Always show")}</option>
@@ -67,10 +68,10 @@ export function PrivacySettings() {
       )}
 
       <h2>{t("Read receipts")}</h2>
-      <Switch checked={s.requestReadReceipt} onChange={(v) => update({ requestReadReceipt: v })} label={t("Always request read receipts")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("requestReadReceipt")} checked={s.requestReadReceipt} onChange={(v) => update({ requestReadReceipt: v })} label={t("Always request read receipts")} />
       <div className="field">
         <label>{t("When someone requests a read receipt")}</label>
-        <select className="select" value={s.readReceiptPolicy} onChange={(e) => update({ readReceiptPolicy: e.target.value as ReadReceiptPolicy })}>
+        <select disabled={isEnforced("readReceiptPolicy")} className="select" value={s.readReceiptPolicy} onChange={(e) => update({ readReceiptPolicy: e.target.value as ReadReceiptPolicy })}>
           <option value="ask">{t("Ask me on each message")}</option>
           <option value="never">{t("Never send one")}</option>
         </select>
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ export function PrivacySettings() {
 
       <div className="field">
         <label>{t("Ask before sending to a large group")}</label>
-        <select className="select" value={String(s.replyAllThreshold)} onChange={(e) => update({ replyAllThreshold: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+        <select disabled={isEnforced("replyAllThreshold")} className="select" value={String(s.replyAllThreshold)} onChange={(e) => update({ replyAllThreshold: Number(e.target.value) })}>
           <option value="0">{t("Never ask")}</option>
           <option value="5">{t("5 people or more")}</option>
           <option value="10">{t("10 people or more")}</option>
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ export function PrivacySettings() {
       <h2>{t("Before it happens")}</h2>
       <div className="field">
         <label>{t("Undo send window")}</label>
-        <select className="select" value={String(s.undoSendSeconds)} onChange={(e) => update({ undoSendSeconds: Number(e.target.value) })}>
+        <select disabled={isEnforced("undoSendSeconds")} className="select" value={String(s.undoSendSeconds)} onChange={(e) => update({ undoSendSeconds: Number(e.target.value) })}>
           <option value="0">{t("Off")}</option>
           <option value="5">{t("5 seconds")}</option>
           <option value="8">{t("8 seconds")}</option>
@@ -145,8 +146,8 @@ export function PrivacySettings() {
         </select>
         <p className="hint">{t("The message is held in this browser and has not been submitted yet, so taking it back costs nothing.")}</p>
       </div>
-      <Switch checked={s.attachmentReminder} onChange={(v) => update({ attachmentReminder: v })} label={t("Attachment reminder")} hint={t("Warn when the message mentions an attachment but none is attached.")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("attachmentReminder")} checked={s.attachmentReminder} onChange={(v) => update({ attachmentReminder: v })} label={t("Attachment reminder")} hint={t("Warn when the message mentions an attachment but none is attached.")} />
-      <Switch checked={s.confirmDelete} onChange={(v) => update({ confirmDelete: v })} label={t("Confirm before deleting")} />
+      <Switch locked={isEnforced("confirmDelete")} checked={s.confirmDelete} onChange={(v) => update({ confirmDelete: v })} label={t("Confirm before deleting")} />
     </div>
   );
 }