diff --git a/web/workspace/deno.json b/web/workspace/deno.json
index b9bfb471..adda00c7 100644
--- a/web/workspace/deno.json
+++ b/web/workspace/deno.json
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     "dev": "deno run -A npm:vite@7.2.7 dev",
     "dev:backend": "cd ../.. && cargo run -p yoi-workspace-server -- serve --workspace . --db .yoi/workspace.db --listen 127.0.0.1:8787",
     "check": "deno run -A npm:@sveltejs/kit@2.49.4 sync && deno run -A npm:svelte-check@4.3.4 --tsconfig ./tsconfig.json",
-    "test": "deno test --allow-read=src src/lib/workspace-console/model.test.ts src/lib/workspace-console/worker-console.ui.test.ts",
+    "test": "deno test --allow-read=src src/lib/workspace-console/model.test.ts src/lib/workspace-console/worker-console.ui.test.ts src/lib/workspace-settings/model.test.ts",
     "build": "deno run -A npm:vite@7.2.7 build",
     "preview": "deno run -A npm:vite@7.2.7 preview"
   },
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/app.css b/web/workspace/src/app.css
index e10c04ae..fda816ee 100644
--- a/web/workspace/src/app.css
+++ b/web/workspace/src/app.css
@@ -988,3 +988,155 @@
         text-align: left;
     }
 }
+
+.settings-button {
+    text-decoration: none;
+    cursor: pointer;
+}
+
+.settings-button:hover,
+.settings-button:focus-visible,
+.settings-button.active {
+    background: var(--interactive-selected);
+    color: var(--accent);
+}
+
+.settings-shell {
+    gap: var(--space-5);
+}
+
+.settings-hero,
+.settings-notice,
+.settings-section-header,
+.settings-patterns {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    gap: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.hero-copy {
+    max-width: 54rem;
+    margin: 0;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.badge {
+    flex: 0 0 auto;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    padding: 0.35rem 0.65rem;
+    background: var(--bg-subtle);
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    font-size: 0.72rem;
+    font-weight: 800;
+    letter-spacing: 0.06em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+}
+
+.badge.warning {
+    color: var(--warning);
+}
+
+.badge.success {
+    color: var(--success);
+}
+
+.settings-notice {
+    border-left: 4px solid var(--warning);
+    padding-left: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.settings-diagnostic {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: var(--space-1);
+    max-width: 24rem;
+    padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4);
+    border: 1px solid var(--line);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-panel);
+    background: var(--bg-raised);
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.settings-diagnostic strong {
+    color: var(--text-strong);
+}
+
+.settings-nav-card {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+    gap: var(--space-3);
+}
+
+.settings-nav-link {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: var(--space-1);
+    min-width: min(16rem, 100%);
+    padding: var(--space-3) var(--space-4);
+    border: 1px solid var(--line);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-panel);
+    background: var(--bg-raised);
+    color: inherit;
+    text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+.settings-nav-link:hover,
+.settings-nav-link:focus-visible {
+    background: var(--interactive-hover);
+}
+
+.settings-nav-link span {
+    color: var(--text-strong);
+    font-weight: 800;
+}
+
+.settings-grid,
+.settings-pattern-grid {
+    grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(min(20rem, 100%), 1fr));
+}
+
+.settings-section,
+.settings-patterns,
+.settings-pattern {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: var(--space-4);
+}
+
+.settings-section ul,
+.settings-patterns ul {
+    margin: 0;
+    padding-left: 1.2rem;
+}
+
+.settings-section li + li {
+    margin-top: var(--space-2);
+}
+
+.settings-identity-list {
+    padding-top: var(--space-3);
+    border-top: 1px solid var(--line);
+}
+
+.settings-pattern {
+    padding: var(--space-4);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-panel);
+    background: var(--bg-raised);
+}
+
+.settings-pattern h3,
+.settings-pattern p {
+    margin: 0;
+}
+
+.status-message {
+    margin: 0;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+@media (max-width: 760px) {
+    .settings-hero,
+    .settings-notice,
+    .settings-section-header,
+    .settings-patterns {
+        display: grid;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/SettingsPage.svelte b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/SettingsPage.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fbe897b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/SettingsPage.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,153 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import WorkspaceSidebar from "$lib/workspace-sidebar/WorkspaceSidebar.svelte";
+  import type { WorkspaceResponse } from "$lib/workspace-sidebar/types";
+  import {
+    SETTINGS_PATTERNS,
+    SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE,
+    SETTINGS_SECTIONS,
+    settingsSectionHref,
+  } from "./model";
+
+  let workspace = $state<WorkspaceResponse | null>(null);
+  let loading = $state(true);
+  let error = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+  $effect(() => {
+    let cancelled = false;
+
+    async function loadWorkspace() {
+      loading = true;
+      error = null;
+
+      try {
+        const response = await fetch("/api/workspace");
+        if (!response.ok) {
+          throw new Error(`workspace request failed (${response.status})`);
+        }
+        const data = (await response.json()) as WorkspaceResponse;
+        if (!cancelled) {
+          workspace = data;
+        }
+      } catch (err) {
+        if (!cancelled) {
+          error = err instanceof Error ? err.message : "workspace request failed";
+        }
+      } finally {
+        if (!cancelled) {
+          loading = false;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
+    loadWorkspace();
+
+    return () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    };
+  });
+</script>
+
+<svelte:head>
+  <title>Settings · Yoi Workspace</title>
+</svelte:head>
+
+<div class="workspace-layout">
+  <WorkspaceSidebar workspace={workspace} currentPath="/settings" />
+
+  <main class="shell settings-shell" aria-labelledby="settings-title">
+    <section class="hero settings-hero">
+      <div>
+        <p class="eyebrow">Workspace Browser</p>
+        <h1 id="settings-title">Settings / Admin</h1>
+        <p class="hero-copy">
+          Read-only shell for future local administration surfaces. This page creates
+          navigation and operator context without adding mutation authority.
+        </p>
+      </div>
+      <span class="badge warning">shell only</span>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="card settings-notice" aria-labelledby="settings-boundary-title">
+      <div>
+        <p class="eyebrow">Authority boundary</p>
+        <h2 id="settings-boundary-title">No browser admin permission model</h2>
+        <p>{SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE}</p>
+      </div>
+      <div class="settings-diagnostic" role="note">
+        <strong>Diagnostic pattern</strong>
+        <span>Future controls must use typed Backend diagnostics and restart-required states.</span>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    <section class="settings-nav-card" aria-label="Settings sections">
+      {#each SETTINGS_SECTIONS as section}
+        <a class="settings-nav-link" href={settingsSectionHref(section.id)}>
+          <span>{section.label}</span>
+          <small>{section.status === "read-only" ? "Read-only" : "Placeholder"}</small>
+        </a>
+      {/each}
+    </section>
+
+    <div class="grid settings-grid">
+      {#each SETTINGS_SECTIONS as section}
+        <section class="card settings-section" id={section.id} aria-labelledby={`${section.id}-title`}>
+          <header class="settings-section-header">
+            <div>
+              <p class="eyebrow">{section.status}</p>
+              <h2 id={`${section.id}-title`}>{section.label}</h2>
+            </div>
+            {#if section.status === "placeholder"}
+              <span class="badge neutral">not implemented</span>
+            {:else}
+              <span class="badge success">read-only</span>
+            {/if}
+          </header>
+          <p>{section.summary}</p>
+          <ul>
+            {#each section.bullets as bullet}
+              <li>{bullet}</li>
+            {/each}
+          </ul>
+
+          {#if section.id === "workspace-identity"}
+            <dl class="settings-identity-list">
+              <div>
+                <dt>Workspace id</dt>
+                <dd><code>{workspace?.workspace_id ?? "loading"}</code></dd>
+              </div>
+              <div>
+                <dt>Display name</dt>
+                <dd>{workspace?.display_name ?? "loading"}</dd>
+              </div>
+              <div>
+                <dt>Record authority</dt>
+                <dd>.yoi tickets/objectives through the Backend projection</dd>
+              </div>
+            </dl>
+          {/if}
+        </section>
+      {/each}
+    </div>
+
+    <section class="card settings-patterns" aria-labelledby="settings-patterns-title">
+      <div>
+        <p class="eyebrow">Implementation patterns</p>
+        <h2 id="settings-patterns-title">How future settings should appear</h2>
+      </div>
+      <div class="grid settings-pattern-grid">
+        {#each SETTINGS_PATTERNS as pattern}
+          <article class="settings-pattern">
+            <h3>{pattern.title}</h3>
+            <p>{pattern.body}</p>
+          </article>
+        {/each}
+      </div>
+    </section>
+
+    {#if loading}
+      <p class="status-message">Loading workspace summary…</p>
+    {:else if error}
+      <p class="status-message error">Workspace summary unavailable: {error}</p>
+    {/if}
+  </main>
+</div>
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.test.ts b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c876dc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+import {
+  SETTINGS_PATTERNS,
+  SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE,
+  SETTINGS_ROUTE,
+  SETTINGS_SECTIONS,
+  settingsSectionHref,
+} from "./model.ts";
+
+declare const Deno: {
+  test(name: string, fn: () => void): void;
+};
+
+function assert(condition: unknown, message: string): asserts condition {
+  if (!condition) {
+    throw new Error(message);
+  }
+}
+
+Deno.test("settings section navigation stays under the settings route", () => {
+  assert(SETTINGS_ROUTE === "/settings", "settings route should be stable");
+
+  for (const section of SETTINGS_SECTIONS) {
+    const href = settingsSectionHref(section.id);
+    assert(
+      href.startsWith("/settings#"),
+      `${section.id} should link under settings`,
+    );
+    assert(
+      href.endsWith(section.id),
+      `${section.id} href should preserve section id`,
+    );
+  }
+});
+
+Deno.test("settings shell advertises no fake browser admin model", () => {
+  assert(
+    SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE.includes("no browser user, role, permission"),
+    "notice should explicitly deny a browser permission model",
+  );
+  assert(
+    SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE.includes("does not create an admin role"),
+    "notice should not imply an admin role exists",
+  );
+});
+
+Deno.test("settings placeholders avoid mutation promises and raw authority leaks", () => {
+  const allText = [
+    SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE,
+    ...SETTINGS_SECTIONS.flatMap((section) => [
+      section.label,
+      section.summary,
+      ...section.bullets,
+    ]),
+    ...SETTINGS_PATTERNS.flatMap((pattern) => [pattern.title, pattern.body]),
+  ].join("\n");
+
+  assert(
+    allText.includes(
+      "does not add, remove, test, or persist Runtime endpoints",
+    ),
+    "Runtime Connections should remain a placeholder",
+  );
+  assert(
+    allText.includes("Restart-required"),
+    "restart-required pattern should be visible",
+  );
+
+  for (
+    const forbidden of [
+      "/home/",
+      "socket path:",
+      "token:",
+      "secret:",
+      "store root:",
+    ]
+  ) {
+    assert(
+      !allText.includes(forbidden),
+      `settings copy should not expose ${forbidden}`,
+    );
+  }
+});
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.ts b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f823c162
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-settings/model.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+export type SettingsSectionId =
+  | "runtime-connections"
+  | "backend-config"
+  | "workspace-identity";
+
+export type SettingsSection = {
+  readonly id: SettingsSectionId;
+  readonly label: string;
+  readonly status: "placeholder" | "read-only";
+  readonly summary: string;
+  readonly bullets: readonly string[];
+};
+
+export type SettingsPattern = {
+  readonly title: string;
+  readonly body: string;
+};
+
+export const SETTINGS_ROUTE = "/settings";
+
+export const SETTINGS_PERMISSION_NOTICE =
+  "Yoi currently has no browser user, role, permission, or multi-user authorization model. This shell is intentionally local and descriptive; it does not create an admin role or grant mutation authority.";
+
+export const SETTINGS_SECTIONS: readonly SettingsSection[] = [
+  {
+    id: "runtime-connections",
+    label: "Runtime Connections",
+    status: "placeholder",
+    summary:
+      "Future Runtime connection management will live here. The current view does not add, remove, test, or persist Runtime endpoints.",
+    bullets: [
+      "Shows where connection diagnostics will surface without exposing tokens, sockets, store roots, or raw endpoint secrets.",
+      "Connection changes require a later typed Backend API and are not performed by this shell.",
+      "Restart-required states should be shown as bounded diagnostics rather than live mutation controls.",
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: "backend-config",
+    label: "Backend Config",
+    status: "placeholder",
+    summary:
+      "Configuration inspection is planned, but editing Backend config or secrets is out of scope for this shell.",
+    bullets: [
+      "Only sanitized summaries belong in the browser; raw config paths, secret refs, tokens, and store roots stay backend-side.",
+      "Missing-provider or invalid-config states should be displayed as typed diagnostics.",
+      "No fake permission model is created to make config editing appear available.",
+    ],
+  },
+  {
+    id: "workspace-identity",
+    label: "Workspace Identity",
+    status: "read-only",
+    summary:
+      "Workspace identity is presented as read-only context so operators can tell which workspace the browser is attached to.",
+    bullets: [
+      "Use opaque workspace ids and display names rather than raw filesystem paths.",
+      "Repository/project-record authority remains backend-side and is not edited here.",
+      "Identity changes need a later explicit migration flow.",
+    ],
+  },
+];
+
+export const SETTINGS_PATTERNS: readonly SettingsPattern[] = [
+  {
+    title: "Sanitized diagnostics",
+    body:
+      "Settings cards should show bounded codes and operator-facing messages, not raw socket paths, credentials, secret refs, token values, or Runtime store paths.",
+  },
+  {
+    title: "Restart-required changes",
+    body:
+      "When a future setting cannot apply live, the browser should say restart required and leave the mutation to a typed Backend workflow.",
+  },
+  {
+    title: "Read-only until typed APIs exist",
+    body:
+      "Placeholder sections describe planned surfaces without pretending that user, role, permission, or Runtime mutation APIs already exist.",
+  },
+];
+
+export function settingsSectionHref(id: SettingsSectionId): string {
+  return `${SETTINGS_ROUTE}#${id}`;
+}
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-sidebar/WorkspaceSidebar.svelte b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-sidebar/WorkspaceSidebar.svelte
index ca947577..7279cfaf 100644
--- a/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-sidebar/WorkspaceSidebar.svelte
+++ b/web/workspace/src/lib/workspace-sidebar/WorkspaceSidebar.svelte
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
   };
 
   let { workspace, workspaceError = null, currentPath = '/' }: Props = $props();
+  let settingsActive = $derived(currentPath.startsWith("/settings"));
 </script>
 
 <aside class="workspace-sidebar" aria-label="Workspace navigation">
@@ -29,20 +30,35 @@
       {/if}
     </div>
 
-    <button
+    <a
       class="settings-button"
-      type="button"
-      aria-label="Workspace settings"
-      title="Workspace settings placeholder"
-      disabled
+      class:active={settingsActive}
+      href="/settings"
+      aria-label="Open Settings / Admin"
+      title="Settings / Admin"
+      aria-current={settingsActive ? 'page' : undefined}
     >
       ⚙
-    </button>
+    </a>
   </header>
 
   <nav class="sidebar-sections" aria-label="Workspace sections">
     <RepositoriesNavSection {workspace} {currentPath} />
     <ObjectivesNavSection {currentPath} />
     <WorkersNavSection {currentPath} />
+
+    <section class="nav-section" aria-labelledby="settings-heading">
+      <div class="section-heading-row">
+        <h2 id="settings-heading">settings</h2>
+      </div>
+      <ul class="nav-list" aria-label="Settings">
+        <li>
+          <a class="nav-item" class:active={settingsActive} href="/settings" aria-current={settingsActive ? 'page' : undefined}>
+            <span class="item-title">Settings / Admin</span>
+            <span class="item-meta">Backend shell and diagnostics</span>
+          </a>
+        </li>
+      </ul>
+    </section>
   </nav>
 </aside>
diff --git a/web/workspace/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte b/web/workspace/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a7831cef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/workspace/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import SettingsPage from "$lib/workspace-settings/SettingsPage.svelte";
+</script>
+
+<SettingsPage />