diff --git a/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx b/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
index 384304f..a67ba07 100644
--- a/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
+++ b/src/components/layout/MainContent.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import { DynamicForm } from '@/components/forms/DynamicForm';
 import { DynamicViewPage } from '@/components/views/DynamicViewPage';
 import { LoadingFallback } from '@/components/common/LoadingFallback';
 import { LegacyProtocolsBanner } from '@/features/hardening/LegacyProtocolsBanner';
+import { DirectorySetupCard } from '@/features/directory/DirectorySetupCard';
 import { SendingSetupCard } from '@/features/sending/SendingSetupCard';
 import { CertificateSetupCard } from '@/features/certificates/CertificateSetupCard';
 import type { Schema } from '@/types/schema';
@@ -76,6 +77,11 @@ const SettingsOverviewPage = lazyFeature(
   () => import('@/features/settings/SettingsOverviewPage'),
   (m) => m.SettingsOverviewPage,
 );
+// inbuxa: guided setup, connect a sign-in directory (settings-reorg spec).
+const DirectorySetupPage = lazyFeature(
+  () => import('@/features/directory/DirectorySetupPage'),
+  (m) => m.DirectorySetupPage,
+);
 // inbuxa: Settings › Spam filter › Local AI (ai-spam-classification spec).
 const LocalAiPage = lazyFeature(
   () => import('@/features/ai/LocalAiPage'),
@@ -141,6 +147,10 @@ function renderView(schema: Schema | null, viewName?: string, id?: string, secti
     if (wizard === 'dns' && param) {
       return <ConnectDnsPage domainId={param} />;
     }
+    // inbuxa: guided setup, connect a sign-in directory (settings-reorg).
+    if (wizard === 'directory') {
+      return <DirectorySetupPage />;
+    }
     // inbuxa: guided setup, how this server sends mail (settings-reorg).
     if (wizard === 'sending') {
       return <SendingSetupPage />;
@@ -216,6 +226,14 @@ function renderView(schema: Schema | null, viewName?: string, id?: string, secti
 
   if (resolved.objectType.type === 'singleton') {
     // INBUXA: the Security settings carry the legacy protocols banner (LP-18).
+    if (resolved.objectName === 'x:Authentication') {
+      return (
+        <div className="space-y-4">
+          <DirectorySetupCard className="mx-auto max-w-4xl" />
+          <DynamicForm viewName={viewName} objectId="singleton" />
+        </div>
+      );
+    }
     if (resolved.objectName === 'x:Security') {
       return (
         <div className="space-y-4">
@@ -290,5 +308,13 @@ function renderView(schema: Schema | null, viewName?: string, id?: string, secti
       </div>
     );
   }
+  if (viewName === 'x:Directory') {
+    return (
+      <div className="space-y-4">
+        <DirectorySetupCard />
+        <DynamicList viewName={viewName} />
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
   return <DynamicList viewName={viewName} />;
 }
diff --git a/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupCard.tsx b/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupCard.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2f93823
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupCard.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { Fingerprint } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { LaunchChoice } from '@/components/wizard/LaunchChoice';
+import { useSchemaStore } from '@/stores/schemaStore';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+
+export const DIRECTORY_WIZARD_VIEW = 'Wizard/directory';
+
+/**
+ * inbuxa: at the top of Directories and Authentication, an invitation to
+ * connect a directory with the guide (settings-reorg, first wave). Manual
+ * stays on the page.
+ */
+export function DirectorySetupCard({ className }: { className?: string }) {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const section = useSchemaStore((s) => s.viewToSection['x:Directory']) ?? 'Settings';
+  const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);
+  return (
+    <div
+      className={cn(
+        'flex flex-wrap items-center gap-4 rounded-xl border border-primary/30 bg-primary/5 p-4',
+        className,
+      )}
+    >
+      <Fingerprint className="h-5 w-5 shrink-0 text-primary" />
+      <div className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+        <p className="font-medium">{t('dirCard.title', 'Sign in with accounts you already have')}</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          {t(
+            'dirCard.hint',
+            'A guide connects Active Directory, LDAP or an OpenID Connect provider, tests a real person, then moves the domains you pick.',
+          )}
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <Button type="button" onClick={() => setOpen(true)}>
+        {t('dirCard.start', 'Set it up')}
+      </Button>
+      <LaunchChoice
+        open={open}
+        onOpenChange={setOpen}
+        title={t('dirCard.chooseTitle', 'Connect a sign-in directory')}
+        guidedHint={t(
+          'dirCard.guidedHint',
+          'Pick your directory, fill in the connection, test a person, then choose domains. Nothing moves until the test passes.',
+        )}
+        manualHint={t('dirCard.manualHint', 'Create the directory and set each domain’s directory yourself.')}
+        onGuided={() => navigate(`/${section}/${DIRECTORY_WIZARD_VIEW}`)}
+        onManual={() => undefined}
+      />
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupPage.tsx b/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupPage.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e1ad024
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/directory/DirectorySetupPage.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,722 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * inbuxa: guided setup, "Connect a sign-in directory" (settings-reorg, first
+ * wave). Pick Active Directory, OpenLDAP, FreeIPA or an OpenID Connect
+ * provider, fill in the connection, save it (a directory nothing points at
+ * changes nothing), test a real person against it with the server's
+ * directory test, then choose which domains sign in through it. The server
+ * default is offered last, behind a warning, because it's how an admin
+ * locks themselves out.
+ */
+
+import { useEffect, useMemo, useState } from 'react';
+import { useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import { AlertTriangle, CheckCircle2, Loader2, XCircle } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
+import { Checkbox } from '@/components/ui/checkbox';
+import { Input } from '@/components/ui/input';
+import { Label } from '@/components/ui/label';
+import { Switch } from '@/components/ui/switch';
+import { LoadingFallback } from '@/components/common/LoadingFallback';
+import { WizardNote, WizardShell, type WizardStep } from '@/components/wizard/WizardShell';
+import { apiFetch } from '@/services/api';
+import { getAccountId, jmapRequest, jmapSet } from '@/services/jmap/client';
+import { useAuthStore } from '@/stores/authStore';
+import { useSchemaStore } from '@/stores/schemaStore';
+import type { JmapSetResponse } from '@/types/jmap';
+import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
+import { directoryObject, PRESETS, type Connection, type Preset } from './presets';
+
+interface DomainRow {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  directoryId: string | null;
+  accounts: number | null;
+}
+
+interface TestResult {
+  kind?: string;
+  opened: boolean;
+  error?: string;
+  oidc?: { issuer: string };
+  lookup?: {
+    found?: 'account' | 'group' | 'none';
+    email?: string;
+    aliases?: string[];
+    groups?: string[];
+    description?: string | null;
+    error?: string;
+  };
+  signIn?: { ok: boolean; wrongPassword?: boolean; error?: string; email?: string };
+}
+
+function failure(body: JmapSetResponse | undefined, kind: 'notCreated' | 'notUpdated'): string | null {
+  const e = body?.[kind] ? Object.values(body[kind]!)[0] : undefined;
+  if (!e) return null;
+  const details = (e.validationErrors ?? []).map((v) => JSON.stringify(v)).join('; ');
+  return [e.description, details].filter(Boolean).join(' ') || e.type;
+}
+
+async function loadDomains(): Promise<{ domains: DomainRow[]; serverDefault: string | null }> {
+  const res = await jmapRequest([
+    ['x:Domain/get', { accountId: getAccountId('x:Domain'), ids: null, properties: ['name', 'directoryId'] }, 'd'],
+    [
+      'x:Authentication/get',
+      { accountId: getAccountId('x:Authentication'), ids: ['singleton'], properties: ['directoryId'] },
+      'a',
+    ],
+  ]);
+  const list = (id: string) =>
+    (res.find(([, , i]) => i === id)?.[1] as { list?: Record<string, unknown>[] } | undefined)?.list ?? [];
+  const domains = list('d')
+    .map((d): DomainRow => ({
+      id: String(d.id),
+      name: String(d.name),
+      directoryId: (d.directoryId as string | null) ?? null,
+      accounts: null,
+    }))
+    .sort((a, b) => a.name.localeCompare(b.name));
+  // How many accounts each domain has: the people a new directory must know.
+  const counts = await jmapRequest(
+    domains.map((d, i) => [
+      'x:Account/query',
+      { accountId: getAccountId('x:Account'), filter: { domainId: d.id }, calculateTotal: true, limit: 0 },
+      String(i),
+    ]),
+  ).catch(() => []);
+  for (const [, body, i] of counts) {
+    const total = (body as { total?: number }).total;
+    if (typeof total === 'number') domains[Number(i)].accounts = total;
+  }
+  return { domains, serverDefault: (list('a')[0]?.directoryId as string | null) ?? null };
+}
+
+export function DirectorySetupPage() {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const navigate = useNavigate();
+  const viewToSection = useSchemaStore((s) => s.viewToSection);
+  const section = viewToSection['x:Directory'] ?? 'Settings';
+  const me = useAuthStore((s) => s.username) ?? '';
+
+  const [step, setStep] = useState(0);
+  const [preset, setPreset] = useState<Preset | null>(null);
+  const [conn, setConn] = useState<Connection>({
+    url: '',
+    baseDn: '',
+    bindDn: '',
+    bindPassword: '',
+    allowInvalidCerts: false,
+    issuer: '',
+    usernameDomain: '',
+  });
+  const [savedId, setSavedId] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [testAddress, setTestAddress] = useState('');
+  const [testPassword, setTestPassword] = useState('');
+  const [result, setResult] = useState<TestResult | null>(null);
+  const [data, setData] = useState<{ domains: DomainRow[]; serverDefault: string | null } | null>(null);
+  const [picked, setPicked] = useState<Set<string>>(new Set());
+  const [asDefault, setAsDefault] = useState(false);
+  const [understood, setUnderstood] = useState(false);
+  const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
+  const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let live = true;
+    loadDomains()
+      .then((d) => live && setData(d))
+      .catch((e: unknown) => live && setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e)));
+    return () => {
+      live = false;
+    };
+  }, []);
+
+  const steps: WizardStep[] = useMemo(
+    () => [
+      { id: 'kind', title: t('dirSetup.stepKind', 'Directory') },
+      { id: 'connect', title: t('dirSetup.stepConnect', 'Connection') },
+      { id: 'test', title: t('dirSetup.stepTest', 'Test a person') },
+      { id: 'domains', title: t('dirSetup.stepDomains', 'Domains') },
+      { id: 'review', title: t('dirSetup.stepReview', 'Review') },
+      { id: 'done', title: t('dirSetup.stepDone', 'Done') },
+    ],
+    [t],
+  );
+
+  const myDomain = me.includes('@') ? me.split('@').pop()!.toLowerCase() : '';
+  const chosen = data?.domains.filter((d) => picked.has(d.id)) ?? [];
+  const lockoutRisk = chosen.some((d) => d.name.toLowerCase() === myDomain) || asDefault;
+  const testPassed =
+    !!result?.opened &&
+    (preset?.kind === 'Oidc' ? true : result.lookup?.found === 'account' && result.signIn?.ok !== false);
+
+  // Save the directory (create, or update the one saved earlier in this run), then test it.
+  const saveAndTest = async () => {
+    if (!preset) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
+    setResult(null);
+    try {
+      const description = t('dirSetup.description', '{{name}} (set up with the guide)', { name: preset.name });
+      const object = directoryObject(preset, conn, description);
+      let id = savedId;
+      if (id) {
+        const { '@type': _type, ...patch } = object;
+        void _type;
+        const [res] = await jmapSet('x:Directory', getAccountId('x:Directory'), { update: { [id]: patch } });
+        const f = failure(res?.[1] as unknown as JmapSetResponse, 'notUpdated');
+        if (f) throw new Error(f);
+      } else {
+        const [res] = await jmapSet('x:Directory', getAccountId('x:Directory'), { create: { dir: object } });
+        const body = res?.[1] as unknown as JmapSetResponse | undefined;
+        id = (body?.created?.dir as { id?: string } | undefined)?.id ?? null;
+        if (!id) throw new Error(failure(body, 'notCreated') ?? 'The directory could not be saved.');
+        setSavedId(id);
+      }
+      setConn((c) => ({ ...c, bindPassword: '' }));
+      setStep(2);
+      if (testAddress || preset.kind === 'Oidc') await runTest(id);
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const runTest = async (id = savedId) => {
+    if (!id) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      // The server rebuilds directories a moment after a save.
+      for (let attempt = 0; attempt < 5; attempt++) {
+        const res = await apiFetch('/api/directory/test', {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          // OpenID Connect has no lookup to try, so any address will do there.
+          body: JSON.stringify({
+            directoryId: id,
+            address: testAddress.trim() || 'check@invalid',
+            password: testPassword || undefined,
+          }),
+        });
+        if (!res.ok) {
+          const problem = (await res.json().catch(() => ({}))) as { detail?: string; title?: string };
+          throw new Error(problem.detail ?? problem.title ?? `The test failed (${res.status}).`);
+        }
+        const body = (await res.json()) as TestResult;
+        if (body.opened || !body.error?.startsWith("The server hasn't loaded")) {
+          setResult(body);
+          return;
+        }
+        await new Promise((r) => setTimeout(r, 1500));
+      }
+      setResult({ opened: false, error: t('dirSetup.notLoaded', 'The server hasn’t loaded the directory yet.') });
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  const apply = async () => {
+    if (!savedId || !data) return;
+    setBusy(true);
+    setError(null);
+    try {
+      if (chosen.length > 0) {
+        const update = Object.fromEntries(chosen.map((d) => [d.id, { directoryId: savedId }]));
+        const [res] = await jmapSet('x:Domain', getAccountId('x:Domain'), { update });
+        const f = failure(res?.[1] as unknown as JmapSetResponse, 'notUpdated');
+        if (f) throw new Error(f);
+      }
+      if (asDefault) {
+        const [res] = await jmapSet('x:Authentication', getAccountId('x:Authentication'), {
+          update: { singleton: { directoryId: savedId } },
+        });
+        const f = failure(res?.[1] as unknown as JmapSetResponse, 'notUpdated');
+        if (f) {
+          // Put the domains back, so a refused default leaves nothing half done.
+          await jmapSet('x:Domain', getAccountId('x:Domain'), {
+            update: Object.fromEntries(chosen.map((d) => [d.id, { directoryId: d.directoryId }])),
+          }).catch(() => undefined);
+          throw new Error(f);
+        }
+      }
+      setStep(5);
+    } catch (e) {
+      setError(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+    } finally {
+      setBusy(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  if (!data) return error ? <div className="p-8 text-center text-destructive">{error}</div> : <LoadingFallback />;
+
+  const common = {
+    icon: 'fingerprint',
+    title: t('dirSetup.title', 'Connect a sign-in directory'),
+    subtitle: t(
+      'dirSetup.subtitle',
+      'Let people sign in with the accounts they already have in Active Directory, LDAP or an OpenID Connect provider.',
+    ),
+    steps,
+    current: step,
+    onCancel: () => navigate(`/${section}/x:Directory`),
+  };
+  const errorLine = error && (
+    <p className="flex items-start gap-2 text-sm text-destructive">
+      <AlertTriangle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0" />
+      {error}
+    </p>
+  );
+  const field = (id: keyof Connection, label: string, placeholder?: string, hint?: string, type = 'text') => (
+    <div className="space-y-1.5">
+      <Label htmlFor={`dir-${id}`}>{label}</Label>
+      <Input
+        id={`dir-${id}`}
+        type={type}
+        value={String(conn[id])}
+        placeholder={placeholder}
+        autoComplete={type === 'password' ? 'new-password' : 'off'}
+        spellCheck={false}
+        onChange={(e) => setConn((c) => ({ ...c, [id]: e.target.value }))}
+        className="max-w-lg"
+      />
+      {hint && <p className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{hint}</p>}
+    </div>
+  );
+
+  // ── Step 1: which directory ──
+  if (step === 0) {
+    return (
+      <WizardShell
+        {...common}
+        canNext={preset !== null}
+        onNext={() => setStep(1)}
+        aside={
+          <WizardNote title={t('dirSetup.safeTitle', 'Nothing changes yet')}>
+            <p>
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.safe',
+                'The directory is saved and tested on its own first. Sign-in only moves to it for the domains you pick at the end.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+            <p>{t('dirSetup.sql', 'An SQL database as a directory is set up by hand, under Directories.')}</p>
+          </WizardNote>
+        }
+      >
+        <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3">
+          {PRESETS.map((p) => (
+            <button
+              key={p.id}
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => setPreset(p)}
+              aria-pressed={preset?.id === p.id}
+              className={cn(
+                'flex flex-col items-start gap-1.5 rounded-xl border p-4 text-left transition-colors hover:border-primary/60',
+                preset?.id === p.id ? 'border-primary bg-primary/5 ring-1 ring-primary' : 'bg-card',
+              )}
+            >
+              <span className="font-medium">{p.name}</span>
+              <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">{p.hint}</span>
+            </button>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      </WizardShell>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ── Step 2: connection ──
+  if (step === 1 && preset) {
+    const ldap = preset.kind === 'Ldap';
+    const ready = ldap
+      ? /^ldaps?:\/\//.test(conn.url.trim()) &&
+        conn.baseDn.trim() !== '' &&
+        (savedId !== null || conn.bindDn.trim() === '' || conn.bindPassword !== '')
+      : /^https:\/\//.test(conn.issuer.trim());
+    return (
+      <WizardShell
+        {...common}
+        onBack={() => setStep(0)}
+        onNext={() => void saveAndTest()}
+        nextLabel={t('dirSetup.saveNext', 'Save and continue')}
+        canNext={ready}
+        busy={busy}
+        aside={
+          ldap ? (
+            <WizardNote title={t('dirSetup.bindTitle', 'The lookup account')}>
+              <p>
+                {t(
+                  'dirSetup.bind',
+                  'A read-only account the server uses to find people. Each person’s own password is then checked by signing in as them.',
+                )}
+              </p>
+            </WizardNote>
+          ) : (
+            <WizardNote title={t('dirSetup.oidcTitle', 'At the provider')}>
+              <p>
+                {t(
+                  'dirSetup.oidc',
+                  'Register inbuxa as a client there. Mail apps can’t do browser sign-in, so people use app passwords for IMAP and SMTP.',
+                )}
+              </p>
+            </WizardNote>
+          )
+        }
+      >
+        {ldap ? (
+          <>
+            {field(
+              'url',
+              t('dirSetup.url', 'Server'),
+              preset.example.url,
+              t(
+                'dirSetup.urlHint',
+                'ldaps:// on 636 is encrypted from the start. ldap:// uses STARTTLS unless it’s this machine.',
+              ),
+            )}
+            {field('baseDn', t('dirSetup.baseDn', 'Search base'), preset.example.baseDn)}
+            {field('bindDn', t('dirSetup.bindDn', 'Lookup account'), preset.example.bindDn)}
+            {field(
+              'bindPassword',
+              t('dirSetup.bindPassword', 'Lookup account password'),
+              savedId ? t('dirSetup.keep', 'Leave empty to keep the saved one') : undefined,
+              undefined,
+              'password',
+            )}
+            <label className="flex items-center justify-between gap-4 text-sm">
+              <span>
+                {t('dirSetup.invalidCerts', 'Accept an untrusted certificate')}
+                <span className="block text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {t(
+                    'dirSetup.invalidCertsHint',
+                    'Only for a self-signed test server. Anyone in between could read passwords.',
+                  )}
+                </span>
+              </span>
+              <Switch
+                checked={conn.allowInvalidCerts}
+                onCheckedChange={(v) => setConn((c) => ({ ...c, allowInvalidCerts: v }))}
+              />
+            </label>
+          </>
+        ) : (
+          <>
+            {field('issuer', t('dirSetup.issuer', 'Issuer URL'), preset.example.issuer)}
+            {field(
+              'usernameDomain',
+              t('dirSetup.usernameDomain', 'Domain for plain user names (optional)'),
+              'example.org',
+              t('dirSetup.usernameDomainHint', 'Added to a user name without @, to make the address.'),
+            )}
+          </>
+        )}
+        {ldap && (
+          <div className="space-y-1.5">
+            <Label htmlFor="dir-test-address">{t('dirSetup.testAddress', 'A person to test with')}</Label>
+            <Input
+              id="dir-test-address"
+              type="email"
+              value={testAddress}
+              onChange={(e) => setTestAddress(e.target.value)}
+              placeholder="jane@corp.example"
+              className="max-w-lg"
+            />
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {errorLine}
+      </WizardShell>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ── Step 3: test a person ──
+  if (step === 2 && preset) {
+    const r = result;
+    return (
+      <WizardShell
+        {...common}
+        onBack={() => setStep(1)}
+        onNext={() => setStep(3)}
+        canNext={testPassed}
+        aside={
+          <WizardNote title={t('dirSetup.testTitle', 'What the test does')}>
+            <p>
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.testHow',
+                'The server looks the address up in the directory and, if you give a password, signs in as that person. Nothing is created here, and a wrong password doesn’t count against anyone.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+          </WizardNote>
+        }
+      >
+        {preset.kind === 'Ldap' && (
+          <div className="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-[1fr_1fr_auto] sm:items-end">
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label htmlFor="dir-t-addr">{t('dirSetup.testAddress', 'A person to test with')}</Label>
+              <Input
+                id="dir-t-addr"
+                type="email"
+                value={testAddress}
+                onChange={(e) => setTestAddress(e.target.value)}
+              />
+            </div>
+            <div className="space-y-1.5">
+              <Label htmlFor="dir-t-pass">{t('dirSetup.testPassword', 'Their password (optional)')}</Label>
+              <Input
+                id="dir-t-pass"
+                type="password"
+                autoComplete="off"
+                value={testPassword}
+                onChange={(e) => setTestPassword(e.target.value)}
+              />
+            </div>
+            <Button
+              type="button"
+              variant="outline"
+              onClick={() => void runTest()}
+              disabled={busy || !testAddress.trim()}
+            >
+              {busy && <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />}
+              {t('dirSetup.test', 'Test')}
+            </Button>
+          </div>
+        )}
+        {preset.kind === 'Oidc' && !r && (
+          <Button type="button" variant="outline" onClick={() => void runTest()} disabled={busy}>
+            {busy && <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />}
+            {t('dirSetup.testOidc', 'Check the provider')}
+          </Button>
+        )}
+
+        {r && (
+          <ul className="space-y-2 text-sm">
+            <li className="flex items-start gap-2">
+              {r.opened ? (
+                <CheckCircle2 className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-emerald-600" />
+              ) : (
+                <XCircle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-destructive" />
+              )}
+              {r.opened
+                ? r.oidc
+                  ? t('dirSetup.oidcOk', 'The provider answered, as {{issuer}}.', { issuer: r.oidc.issuer })
+                  : t('dirSetup.opened', 'The server can use this directory.')
+                : t('dirSetup.notOpened', 'The directory didn’t open: {{error}}', { error: r.error ?? '' })}
+            </li>
+            {r.lookup && (
+              <li className="flex items-start gap-2">
+                {r.lookup.found === 'account' ? (
+                  <CheckCircle2 className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-emerald-600" />
+                ) : (
+                  <XCircle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-destructive" />
+                )}
+                <span>
+                  {r.lookup.error
+                    ? t('dirSetup.lookupError', 'The lookup failed: {{error}}', { error: r.lookup.error })
+                    : r.lookup.found === 'account'
+                      ? t('dirSetup.found', 'Found {{name}} <{{email}}>.', {
+                          name: r.lookup.description ?? '',
+                          email: r.lookup.email,
+                        })
+                      : r.lookup.found === 'group'
+                        ? t('dirSetup.foundGroup', 'That address is a group, not a person. Try a person’s address.')
+                        : t(
+                            'dirSetup.notFound',
+                            'Nobody with that address. Check the search base and that the address is in the mail attribute.',
+                          )}
+                  {r.lookup.found === 'account' && (r.lookup.aliases?.length || r.lookup.groups?.length) ? (
+                    <span className="block text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                      {r.lookup.aliases?.length
+                        ? t('dirSetup.aliases', 'Also receives: {{list}}. ', { list: r.lookup.aliases.join(', ') })
+                        : ''}
+                      {r.lookup.groups?.length
+                        ? t('dirSetup.groups', 'Groups: {{list}}.', { list: r.lookup.groups.join(', ') })
+                        : ''}
+                    </span>
+                  ) : null}
+                </span>
+              </li>
+            )}
+            {r.signIn && (
+              <li className="flex items-start gap-2">
+                {r.signIn.ok ? (
+                  <CheckCircle2 className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-emerald-600" />
+                ) : (
+                  <XCircle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-destructive" />
+                )}
+                {r.signIn.ok
+                  ? t('dirSetup.signInOk', 'The password signs in.')
+                  : r.signIn.wrongPassword
+                    ? t('dirSetup.wrongPassword', 'The directory says that password is wrong.')
+                    : t('dirSetup.signInError', 'Signing in failed: {{error}}', { error: r.signIn.error ?? '' })}
+              </li>
+            )}
+          </ul>
+        )}
+        {r && !testPassed && (
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            {t('dirSetup.fixHint', 'Go back to change the connection. Saving again updates the same directory.')}
+          </p>
+        )}
+        {errorLine}
+      </WizardShell>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ── Step 4: domains ──
+  if (step === 3) {
+    return (
+      <WizardShell
+        {...common}
+        onBack={() => setStep(2)}
+        onNext={() => setStep(4)}
+        canNext={(chosen.length > 0 || asDefault) && (!lockoutRisk || understood)}
+        aside={
+          <WizardNote title={t('dirSetup.whoTitle', 'Who this affects')}>
+            <p>
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.who',
+                'On a domain that moves to this directory, only people the directory knows can sign in with a password. Existing accounts it doesn’t know stop signing in and, for LDAP, stop receiving mail. App passwords keep working.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+          </WizardNote>
+        }
+      >
+        <ul className="divide-y rounded-xl border">
+          {data.domains.map((d) => (
+            <li key={d.id} className="flex items-center gap-3 px-4 py-3">
+              <Checkbox
+                id={`dd-${d.id}`}
+                checked={picked.has(d.id)}
+                onCheckedChange={(v) =>
+                  setPicked((s) => {
+                    const n = new Set(s);
+                    if (v) n.add(d.id);
+                    else n.delete(d.id);
+                    return n;
+                  })
+                }
+              />
+              <label htmlFor={`dd-${d.id}`} className="min-w-0 flex-1">
+                <span className="font-medium">{d.name}</span>
+                <span className="block text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  {d.directoryId === savedId
+                    ? t('dirSetup.alreadyThis', 'Already uses this directory.')
+                    : d.directoryId
+                      ? t('dirSetup.otherDir', 'Uses another directory now.')
+                      : t('dirSetup.defaultDir', 'Uses the server default now.')}{' '}
+                  {d.accounts !== null && t('dirSetup.accounts', '{{count}} accounts.', { count: d.accounts })}{' '}
+                  {d.name.toLowerCase() === myDomain && t('dirSetup.yours', 'You sign in on this domain.')}
+                </span>
+              </label>
+            </li>
+          ))}
+        </ul>
+        <label className="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 rounded-xl border p-4 text-sm">
+          <span>
+            <span className="font-medium">{t('dirSetup.asDefault', 'Make it the server default')}</span>
+            <span className="block text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.asDefaultHint',
+                'For every domain without a directory of its own. Rarely what you want: prefer choosing domains.',
+              )}
+            </span>
+          </span>
+          <Switch checked={asDefault} onCheckedChange={setAsDefault} />
+        </label>
+        {lockoutRisk && (
+          <div className="space-y-2 rounded-xl border border-amber-500/40 bg-amber-500/5 p-4 text-sm">
+            <p className="flex items-start gap-2 font-medium">
+              <AlertTriangle className="mt-0.5 h-4 w-4 shrink-0 text-amber-600" />
+              {t('dirSetup.lockout', 'This includes the account you’re signed in with ({{me}}).', { me })}
+            </p>
+            <p className="text-muted-foreground">
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.lockoutHint',
+                'If the directory doesn’t know you, you can’t sign in again with your password. Test your own address first, keep an app password, or leave that domain out.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+            <label className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <Checkbox checked={understood} onCheckedChange={(v) => setUnderstood(Boolean(v))} />
+              {t('dirSetup.understood', 'I’ve checked I can still sign in')}
+            </label>
+          </div>
+        )}
+      </WizardShell>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ── Step 5: review ──
+  if (step === 4) {
+    return (
+      <WizardShell
+        {...common}
+        onBack={() => setStep(3)}
+        onNext={() => void apply()}
+        nextLabel={t('dirSetup.apply', 'Switch sign-in over')}
+        busy={busy}
+        aside={
+          <WizardNote tone="undo" title={t('dirSetup.undoTitle', 'Changing your mind')}>
+            <p>
+              {t(
+                'dirSetup.undo',
+                'Set a domain’s directory back to the server default. Accounts made from the directory stay, with the last password it supplied.',
+              )}
+            </p>
+          </WizardNote>
+        }
+      >
+        <p className="font-medium">{t('dirSetup.willChange', 'What will change')}</p>
+        <ul className="list-disc space-y-1 pl-5 text-sm">
+          {chosen.map((d) => (
+            <li key={d.id}>
+              {t('dirSetup.domainMoves', '{{domain}} signs in through {{dir}}{{note}}.', {
+                domain: d.name,
+                dir: preset?.name ?? '',
+                note:
+                  d.accounts !== null && d.accounts > 0
+                    ? t('dirSetup.countNote', '; its {{count}} existing accounts must be in the directory', {
+                        count: d.accounts,
+                      })
+                    : '',
+              })}
+            </li>
+          ))}
+          {asDefault && (
+            <li>
+              {t('dirSetup.defaultMoves', 'Every other domain without its own directory signs in through {{dir}}.', {
+                dir: preset?.name ?? '',
+              })}
+            </li>
+          )}
+        </ul>
+        {errorLine}
+      </WizardShell>
+    );
+  }
+
+  // ── Step 6: done ──
+  return (
+    <WizardShell
+      {...common}
+      onNext={() => navigate(`/${section}/x:Directory`)}
+      nextLabel={t('wizard.finish', 'Finish')}
+    >
+      <p className="flex items-center gap-2 font-medium">
+        <CheckCircle2 className="h-5 w-5 text-emerald-600" />
+        {t('dirSetup.done', 'Sign-in now goes through {{dir}}.', { dir: preset?.name ?? '' })}
+      </p>
+      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+        {t(
+          'dirSetup.doneHint',
+          'Have someone sign in to the webmail with their directory password. Their account is created on first sign-in, with the name, aliases and groups the directory gives.',
+        )}
+      </p>
+    </WizardShell>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/features/directory/presets.test.ts b/src/features/directory/presets.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b414a14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/directory/presets.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
+import { directoryObject, presetById, type Connection } from './presets';
+
+const conn: Connection = {
+  url: 'ldaps://dc1.corp.example:636',
+  baseDn: 'dc=corp,dc=example',
+  bindDn: 'cn=inbuxa,cn=Users,dc=corp,dc=example',
+  bindPassword: 'pw',
+  allowInvalidCerts: false,
+  issuer: '',
+  usernameDomain: '',
+};
+
+describe('directoryObject', () => {
+  it('builds an LDAP directory with the preset filters and the bind secret', () => {
+    const o = directoryObject(presetById('ad'), conn, 'AD');
+    expect(o).toMatchObject({
+      '@type': 'Ldap',
+      url: 'ldaps://dc1.corp.example:636',
+      useTls: false,
+      baseDn: 'dc=corp,dc=example',
+      bindSecret: { '@type': 'Value', secret: 'pw' },
+      groupClass: 'group',
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('asks for STARTTLS on ldap:// except to this machine', () => {
+    expect(directoryObject(presetById('openldap'), { ...conn, url: 'ldap://ldap.example.org' }, '').useTls).toBe(true);
+    expect(directoryObject(presetById('openldap'), { ...conn, url: 'ldap://localhost' }, '').useTls).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the saved bind secret when no password is typed', () => {
+    expect(directoryObject(presetById('openldap'), { ...conn, bindPassword: '' }, '')).not.toHaveProperty('bindSecret');
+  });
+
+  it('builds an OIDC directory from the issuer', () => {
+    expect(
+      directoryObject(presetById('keycloak'), { ...conn, issuer: ' https://sso.example.org/realms/x ' }, 'KC'),
+    ).toEqual({
+      '@type': 'Oidc',
+      description: 'KC',
+      issuerUrl: 'https://sso.example.org/realms/x',
+      usernameDomain: null,
+      claimUsername: 'email',
+      claimName: 'name',
+      claimGroups: 'groups',
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/features/directory/presets.ts b/src/features/directory/presets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d088567
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/directory/presets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+/*
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2026 Coffey Labs
+ *
+ * SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-only
+ */
+
+/**
+ * inbuxa: starting points for the directories people actually run
+ * (settings-reorg, guided setup "Connect a sign-in directory"). They're
+ * starting points, not guarantees: every schema is set up a little
+ * differently, which is why the guide tests a real person before any
+ * domain signs in through the directory.
+ */
+
+export type Flavor = 'ad' | 'openldap' | 'freeipa' | 'keycloak' | 'authentik' | 'oidc';
+export type Kind = 'Ldap' | 'Oidc';
+
+export interface Preset {
+  id: Flavor;
+  kind: Kind;
+  name: string;
+  hint: string;
+  /** Example values for the connection fields. */
+  example: { url?: string; baseDn?: string; bindDn?: string; issuer?: string };
+  /** Directory fields the preset sets, in the server's JSON form. */
+  fields: Record<string, unknown>;
+}
+
+const set = (...values: string[]) => Object.fromEntries(values.map((v) => [v, true]));
+
+export const PRESETS: Preset[] = [
+  {
+    id: 'ad',
+    kind: 'Ldap',
+    name: 'Active Directory',
+    hint: 'Windows Server or Samba AD. People sign in with their email address or user principal name.',
+    example: {
+      url: 'ldaps://dc1.corp.example:636',
+      baseDn: 'dc=corp,dc=example',
+      bindDn: 'cn=inbuxa,cn=Users,dc=corp,dc=example',
+    },
+    fields: {
+      filterLogin: '(&(objectClass=user)(|(mail=?)(userPrincipalName=?)))',
+      filterMailbox: '(|(&(objectClass=user)(mail=?))(&(objectClass=group)(mail=?)))',
+      filterMemberOf: null,
+      groupClass: 'group',
+      attrClass: set('objectClass'),
+      attrEmail: set('mail'),
+      attrEmailAlias: set('otherMailbox'),
+      attrDescription: set('displayName'),
+      attrMemberOf: set('memberOf'),
+      attrSecret: {},
+      attrSecretChanged: set('pwdLastSet'),
+      bindAuthentication: true,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'openldap',
+    kind: 'Ldap',
+    name: 'OpenLDAP',
+    hint: 'inetOrgPerson accounts with mail and mailAlias, groupOfNames groups.',
+    example: { url: 'ldaps://ldap.example.org:636', baseDn: 'dc=example,dc=org', bindDn: 'cn=admin,dc=example,dc=org' },
+    fields: {
+      filterLogin: '(&(objectClass=inetOrgPerson)(mail=?))',
+      filterMailbox:
+        '(|(&(objectClass=inetOrgPerson)(|(mail=?)(mailAlias=?)))(&(objectClass=groupOfNames)(|(mail=?)(mailAlias=?))))',
+      filterMemberOf: '(&(objectClass=groupOfNames)(member=?))',
+      groupClass: 'groupOfNames',
+      attrClass: set('objectClass'),
+      attrEmail: set('mail'),
+      attrEmailAlias: set('mailAlias'),
+      attrDescription: set('cn'),
+      attrMemberOf: set('memberOf'),
+      attrSecret: {},
+      attrSecretChanged: set('pwdChangedTime'),
+      bindAuthentication: true,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'freeipa',
+    kind: 'Ldap',
+    name: 'FreeIPA',
+    hint: 'Red Hat Identity Management. Accounts live under cn=accounts.',
+    example: {
+      url: 'ldaps://ipa.example.org:636',
+      baseDn: 'cn=accounts,dc=example,dc=org',
+      bindDn: 'uid=inbuxa,cn=sysaccounts,cn=etc,dc=example,dc=org',
+    },
+    fields: {
+      filterLogin: '(&(objectClass=person)(mail=?))',
+      filterMailbox: '(|(&(objectClass=person)(mail=?))(&(objectClass=groupOfNames)(mail=?)))',
+      filterMemberOf: null,
+      groupClass: 'groupOfNames',
+      attrClass: set('objectClass'),
+      attrEmail: set('mail'),
+      attrEmailAlias: {},
+      attrDescription: set('cn'),
+      attrMemberOf: set('memberOf'),
+      attrSecret: {},
+      attrSecretChanged: set('krbLastPwdChange'),
+      bindAuthentication: true,
+    },
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'keycloak',
+    kind: 'Oidc',
+    name: 'Keycloak',
+    hint: 'A realm’s OpenID Connect issuer. Sign-in happens at Keycloak; mail apps use tokens or app passwords.',
+    example: { issuer: 'https://sso.example.org/realms/example' },
+    fields: { claimUsername: 'email', claimName: 'name', claimGroups: 'groups' },
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'authentik',
+    kind: 'Oidc',
+    name: 'Authentik',
+    hint: 'An Authentik OAuth2/OpenID provider’s issuer.',
+    example: { issuer: 'https://auth.example.org/application/o/inbuxa/' },
+    fields: { claimUsername: 'email', claimName: 'name', claimGroups: 'groups' },
+  },
+  {
+    id: 'oidc',
+    kind: 'Oidc',
+    name: 'Another OpenID Connect provider',
+    hint: 'Any provider with a discovery document at /.well-known/openid-configuration.',
+    example: { issuer: 'https://id.example.org' },
+    fields: { claimUsername: 'email', claimName: 'name' },
+  },
+];
+
+export function presetById(id: Flavor): Preset {
+  return PRESETS.find((p) => p.id === id)!;
+}
+
+export interface Connection {
+  url: string;
+  baseDn: string;
+  bindDn: string;
+  /** Empty keeps the saved one when editing. */
+  bindPassword: string;
+  allowInvalidCerts: boolean;
+  issuer: string;
+  usernameDomain: string;
+}
+
+/** The x:Directory object this preset and connection make. */
+export function directoryObject(p: Preset, c: Connection, description: string): Record<string, unknown> {
+  if (p.kind === 'Oidc') {
+    return {
+      '@type': 'Oidc',
+      description,
+      issuerUrl: c.issuer.trim(),
+      usernameDomain: c.usernameDomain.trim() || null,
+      ...p.fields,
+    };
+  }
+  const url = c.url.trim();
+  return {
+    '@type': 'Ldap',
+    description,
+    url,
+    // ldaps:// is encrypted by the URL itself; useTls asks for STARTTLS on ldap://.
+    useTls: url.startsWith('ldap://') && !/^ldap:\/\/(localhost|127\.0\.0\.1|\[::1\])(:|\/|$)/.test(url),
+    allowInvalidCerts: c.allowInvalidCerts,
+    baseDn: c.baseDn.trim(),
+    bindDn: c.bindDn.trim() || null,
+    ...(c.bindPassword ? { bindSecret: { '@type': 'Value', secret: c.bindPassword } } : {}),
+    ...p.fields,
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/layout.ts b/src/lib/layout.ts
index 124daa5..afb2533 100644
--- a/src/lib/layout.ts
+++ b/src/lib/layout.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ function checkSpecialLink(
     const ok = canGet ? canGet('sysMtaRoute') && canGet('sysMtaOutboundStrategy') : true;
     return { visible: ok, enterprise: false };
   }
+  if (viewName === 'Wizard/directory') {
+    const ok = canGet ? canGet('sysDirectory') && canGet('sysDomain') && canGet('sysAuthentication') : true;
+    return { visible: ok, enterprise: false };
+  }
   if (viewName.startsWith('Wizard/dns/')) {
     return { visible: canGet ? canGet('sysDomain') : true, enterprise: false };
   }
diff --git a/src/pages/AdminPanel.tsx b/src/pages/AdminPanel.tsx
index c533f51..bc0c7be 100644
--- a/src/pages/AdminPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/AdminPanel.tsx
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ export default function AdminPanel() {
     if (!section) return t('dashboard.title', 'Dashboard');
     if (!viewName) return section;
     if (viewName.startsWith('Wizard/dns/')) return `${t('dnsWizard.tabTitle', 'Publish DNS')} · ${section}`;
+    if (viewName === 'Wizard/directory') return `${t('dirSetup.tabTitle', 'Sign-in directory')} · ${section}`;
     if (viewName === 'Wizard/certificates') return `${t('certSetup.tabTitle', 'Certificates')} · ${section}`;
     if (viewName === 'Wizard/sending') return `${t('sendingSetup.tabTitle', 'Sending mail')} · ${section}`;
     if (viewName.startsWith('Dashboard/')) {