diff --git a/admin.svg b/admin.svg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e1ff18
--- /dev/null
+++ b/admin.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+<svg viewBox="0 0 24 24">
+  <path fill="none" fill-opacity="0" stroke="#6c387d" stroke-width="1.9208228" d="M2.516 2.398l19.053.002-.003 19.054-19.053-.003zm12.5 18.659v-5.708M21.55 9.01H9.077M2.88 15.076h18.417M9.075 2.187v12.896M2.385 2.242l19.253.003-.003 19.264-19.253-.003z"/>
+</svg>
diff --git a/admin/main.php b/admin/main.php
index a3b3dd9..cf1ef2c 100644
--- a/admin/main.php
+++ b/admin/main.php
@@ -13,8 +13,20 @@ class admin_plugin_luxtools_main extends DokuWiki_Admin_Plugin
         'paths',
         'scratchpad_paths',
         'allow_in_comments',
-        'defaults',
         'extensions',
+        'default_sort',
+        'default_order',
+        'default_style',
+        'default_tableheader',
+        'default_foldersfirst',
+        'default_recursive',
+        'default_titlefile',
+        'default_cache',
+        'default_randlinks',
+        'default_showsize',
+        'default_showdate',
+        'default_listsep',
+        'default_maxheight',
         'thumb_placeholder',
         'gallery_thumb_scale',
         'open_service_url',
@@ -58,8 +70,22 @@ class admin_plugin_luxtools_main extends DokuWiki_Admin_Plugin
         $newConf['scratchpad_paths'] = $scratchpadPaths;
 
         $newConf['allow_in_comments'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('allow_in_comments');
-        $newConf['defaults'] = $INPUT->str('defaults');
         $newConf['extensions'] = $INPUT->str('extensions');
+
+        $newConf['default_sort'] = $INPUT->str('default_sort');
+        $newConf['default_order'] = $INPUT->str('default_order');
+        $newConf['default_style'] = $INPUT->str('default_style');
+        $newConf['default_tableheader'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_tableheader');
+        $newConf['default_foldersfirst'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_foldersfirst');
+        $newConf['default_recursive'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_recursive');
+        $newConf['default_titlefile'] = $INPUT->str('default_titlefile');
+        $newConf['default_cache'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_cache');
+        $newConf['default_randlinks'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_randlinks');
+        $newConf['default_showsize'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_showsize');
+        $newConf['default_showdate'] = (int)$INPUT->bool('default_showdate');
+        $newConf['default_listsep'] = $INPUT->str('default_listsep');
+        $newConf['default_maxheight'] = $INPUT->str('default_maxheight');
+
         $newConf['thumb_placeholder'] = $INPUT->str('thumb_placeholder');
         $newConf['gallery_thumb_scale'] = $INPUT->str('gallery_thumb_scale');
         $newConf['open_service_url'] = $INPUT->str('open_service_url');
@@ -106,16 +132,103 @@ class admin_plugin_luxtools_main extends DokuWiki_Admin_Plugin
         echo '<input type="checkbox" name="allow_in_comments" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
         echo '</label><br />';
 
-        // defaults
-        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('defaults')) . '</span> ';
-        echo '<input type="text" class="edit" name="defaults" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('defaults')) . '" />';
-        echo '</label><br />';
-
         // extensions
         echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('extensions')) . '</span> ';
         echo '<input type="text" class="edit" name="extensions" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('extensions')) . '" />';
         echo '</label><br />';
 
+        echo '<h2>' . hsc($this->getLang('listing_defaults')) . '</h2>';
+
+        // default_sort
+        $defaultSort = (string)$this->getConf('default_sort');
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_sort')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<select name="default_sort" class="edit">';
+        foreach (['name', 'iname', 'ctime', 'mtime', 'size'] as $opt) {
+            $sel = ($defaultSort === $opt) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
+            echo '<option value="' . hsc($opt) . '"' . $sel . '>' . hsc($opt) . '</option>';
+        }
+        echo '</select>';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_order
+        $defaultOrder = (string)$this->getConf('default_order');
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_order')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<select name="default_order" class="edit">';
+        foreach (['asc', 'desc'] as $opt) {
+            $sel = ($defaultOrder === $opt) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
+            echo '<option value="' . hsc($opt) . '"' . $sel . '>' . hsc($opt) . '</option>';
+        }
+        echo '</select>';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_style
+        $defaultStyle = (string)$this->getConf('default_style');
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_style')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<select name="default_style" class="edit">';
+        foreach (['list', 'olist', 'table'] as $opt) {
+            $sel = ($defaultStyle === $opt) ? ' selected="selected"' : '';
+            echo '<option value="' . hsc($opt) . '"' . $sel . '>' . hsc($opt) . '</option>';
+        }
+        echo '</select>';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_tableheader
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_tableheader') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_tableheader')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_tableheader" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_foldersfirst
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_foldersfirst') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_foldersfirst')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_foldersfirst" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_recursive
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_recursive') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_recursive')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_recursive" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_titlefile
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_titlefile')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<input type="text" class="edit" name="default_titlefile" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('default_titlefile')) . '" />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_cache
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_cache') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_cache')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_cache" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_randlinks
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_randlinks') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_randlinks')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_randlinks" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_showsize
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_showsize') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_showsize')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_showsize" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_showdate
+        $checked = $this->getConf('default_showdate') ? ' checked="checked"' : '';
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_showdate')) . '</span> ';
+        echo '<input type="checkbox" name="default_showdate" value="1"' . $checked . ' />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_listsep
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_listsep')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<input type="text" class="edit" name="default_listsep" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('default_listsep')) . '" />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
+        // default_maxheight
+        echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('default_maxheight')) . '</span>';
+        echo '<input type="number" class="edit" name="default_maxheight" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('default_maxheight')) . '" />';
+        echo '</label><br />';
+
         // thumb_placeholder
         echo '<label class="block"><span>' . hsc($this->getLang('thumb_placeholder')) . '</span> ';
         echo '<input type="text" class="edit" name="thumb_placeholder" value="' . hsc((string)$this->getConf('thumb_placeholder')) . '" />';
diff --git a/conf/default.php b/conf/default.php
index db9d9a9..1d6f79e 100644
--- a/conf/default.php
+++ b/conf/default.php
@@ -7,9 +7,25 @@
 $conf['paths'] = '';
 $conf['scratchpad_paths'] = '';
 $conf['allow_in_comments'] = 0;
+// Legacy (advanced): additional default flags in the same syntax as inline options.
 $conf['defaults'] = '';
 $conf['extensions'] = '';
 
+// Listing defaults (applied to files/images/directory unless overridden inline)
+$conf['default_sort'] = 'name'; // name|iname|ctime|mtime|size
+$conf['default_order'] = 'asc'; // asc|desc
+$conf['default_style'] = 'list'; // list|olist|table
+$conf['default_tableheader'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_foldersfirst'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_recursive'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_titlefile'] = '_title.txt';
+$conf['default_cache'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_randlinks'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_showsize'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_showdate'] = 0; // 0|1
+$conf['default_listsep'] = ', ';
+$conf['default_maxheight'] = 500; // -1 disables scroll container
+
 // MediaManager ID for gallery thumbnail placeholder
 $conf['thumb_placeholder'] = ':wiki:thumb-placeholder.png';
 
diff --git a/lang/de/lang.php b/lang/de/lang.php
index e480a2d..7babb7e 100644
--- a/lang/de/lang.php
+++ b/lang/de/lang.php
@@ -29,8 +29,24 @@ $lang['err_security'] = 'Sicherheits-Token ungültig. Bitte erneut versuchen.';
 $lang['paths'] = 'Erlaubte Basis-Pfade (eine pro Zeile). Optional: Pfad mit A>-Alias ergaenzen.';
 $lang['scratchpad_paths'] = 'Scratchpad-Dateien (eine pro Zeile). Jeder Dateipfad muss eine Erweiterung enthalten. Mit einer folgenden A>-Zeile wird der Pad-Name gesetzt, der im Wiki verwendet wird.';
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'luxtools-Syntax (files/images/directory/scratchpad) in Kommentaren erlauben.';
-$lang['defaults'] = 'Standardoptionen (gleiche Syntax wie bei Inline-Konfiguration).';
 $lang['extensions'] = 'Kommagetrennte Liste erlaubter Dateiendungen.';
+
+$lang['listing_defaults'] = 'Listen-Standardwerte';
+$lang['default_sort'] = 'Standard-Sortierschlüssel (name|iname|ctime|mtime|size).';
+$lang['default_order'] = 'Standard-Sortierreihenfolge (asc|desc).';
+$lang['default_style'] = 'Standard-Ausgabeformat (list|olist|table).';
+$lang['default_tableheader'] = 'Tabellenkopf standardmäßig anzeigen.';
+$lang['default_foldersfirst'] = 'Ordner standardmäßig vor Dateien sortieren.';
+$lang['default_recursive'] = 'Unterverzeichnisse standardmäßig einbeziehen.';
+$lang['default_titlefile'] = 'Standard-Name der Titeldatei (z.B. _title.txt).';
+$lang['default_cache'] = 'Seiten-Caching standardmäßig aktivieren (0 deaktiviert Caching).';
+$lang['default_randlinks'] = 'Standardmäßig Cache-Busting-Parameter auf Basis mtime hinzufügen.';
+$lang['default_showsize'] = 'Dateigröße standardmäßig anzeigen (falls unterstützt).';
+$lang['default_showdate'] = 'Änderungsdatum standardmäßig anzeigen (falls unterstützt).';
+$lang['default_listsep'] = 'Standard-Trennzeichen für Listenausgabe (z.B. ", ").';
+$lang['default_maxheight'] = 'Standard max-height in px für Scroll-Container (-1 deaktiviert).';
+
+$lang['defaults'] = 'Legacy-Standardoptionen (fortgeschritten). Vorhandene Werte werden weiterhin berücksichtigt, sind aber nicht mehr über die UI konfigurierbar.';
 $lang['thumb_placeholder'] = 'MediaManager-ID für den Platzhalter der Galerie-Thumbnails.';
 $lang['gallery_thumb_scale'] = 'Skalierungsfaktor für Galerie-Thumbnails. 2 erzeugt schärfere Thumbnails auf HiDPI-Displays (Anzeige bleibt 150×150).';
 $lang['open_service_url'] = 'URL des lokalen Client-Dienstes für {{open>...}} (z.B. http://127.0.0.1:8765).';
diff --git a/lang/de/settings.php b/lang/de/settings.php
index 48178cb..aa43fe4 100644
--- a/lang/de/settings.php
+++ b/lang/de/settings.php
@@ -3,9 +3,25 @@
 $lang["paths"] = "Erlaubte Basis-Pfade (eine pro Zeile). Optional: Pfad mit A>-Alias ergaenzen.";
 $lang["scratchpad_paths"] = "Scratchpad-Dateien (eine pro Zeile). Jeder Dateipfad muss eine Erweiterung enthalten. Mit einer folgenden A>-Zeile wird der Pad-Name gesetzt, der im Wiki verwendet wird.";
 $lang["allow_in_comments"] = "luxtools-Syntax (files/images/directory/scratchpad) in Kommentaren erlauben.";
-$lang["defaults"] = "Standardoptionen (gleiche Syntax wie bei Inline-Konfiguration).";
 $lang["extensions"] = "Kommagetrennte Liste erlaubter Dateiendungen.";
 
+$lang["listing_defaults"] = "Listen-Standardwerte";
+$lang["default_sort"] = "Standard-Sortierschlüssel (name|iname|ctime|mtime|size).";
+$lang["default_order"] = "Standard-Sortierreihenfolge (asc|desc).";
+$lang["default_style"] = "Standard-Ausgabeformat (list|olist|table).";
+$lang["default_tableheader"] = "Tabellenkopf standardmäßig anzeigen.";
+$lang["default_foldersfirst"] = "Ordner standardmäßig vor Dateien sortieren.";
+$lang["default_recursive"] = "Unterverzeichnisse standardmäßig einbeziehen.";
+$lang["default_titlefile"] = "Standard-Name der Titeldatei (z.B. _title.txt).";
+$lang["default_cache"] = "Seiten-Caching standardmäßig aktivieren (0 deaktiviert Caching).";
+$lang["default_randlinks"] = "Standardmäßig Cache-Busting-Parameter auf Basis mtime hinzufügen.";
+$lang["default_showsize"] = "Dateigröße standardmäßig anzeigen (falls unterstützt).";
+$lang["default_showdate"] = "Änderungsdatum standardmäßig anzeigen (falls unterstützt).";
+$lang["default_listsep"] = "Standard-Trennzeichen für Listenausgabe (z.B. \", \").";
+$lang["default_maxheight"] = "Standard max-height in px für Scroll-Container (-1 deaktiviert).";
+
+$lang["defaults"] = "Legacy-Standardoptionen (fortgeschritten). Vorhandene Werte werden weiterhin berücksichtigt, sind aber nicht mehr über die UI konfigurierbar.";
+
 $lang["thumb_placeholder"] = "MediaManager-ID fuer den Platzhalter der Galerie-Thumbnails.";
 
 $lang["gallery_thumb_scale"] = "Skalierungsfaktor fuer Galerie-Thumbnails. 2 erzeugt schaerfere Thumbnails auf HiDPI-Displays (Anzeige bleibt 150x150).";
diff --git a/lang/en/lang.php b/lang/en/lang.php
index 6b6da56..fd42330 100644
--- a/lang/en/lang.php
+++ b/lang/en/lang.php
@@ -29,8 +29,24 @@ $lang['err_security'] = 'Security token mismatch. Please retry.';
 $lang['paths'] = 'Allowed base paths (one per line). Optional: follow a path with A> alias.';
 $lang['scratchpad_paths'] = 'Scratchpad files (one per line). Each file path must include the extension. Use a following A> line to set the pad name used in the wiki.';
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'Whether to allow luxtools syntax (files/images/directory/scratchpad) to be used in comments.';
-$lang['defaults'] = 'Default options. Use the same syntax as in inline configuration.';
 $lang['extensions'] = 'Comma-separated list of allowed file extensions to list.';
+
+$lang['listing_defaults'] = 'Listing defaults';
+$lang['default_sort'] = 'Default sort key (name|iname|ctime|mtime|size).';
+$lang['default_order'] = 'Default sort order (asc|desc).';
+$lang['default_style'] = 'Default output style (list|olist|table).';
+$lang['default_tableheader'] = 'Render table header row by default.';
+$lang['default_foldersfirst'] = 'Group folders before files by default.';
+$lang['default_recursive'] = 'Recurse into subdirectories by default.';
+$lang['default_titlefile'] = 'Default title file name (e.g. _title.txt).';
+$lang['default_cache'] = 'Enable page caching by default (0 disables caching).';
+$lang['default_randlinks'] = 'Add cache-busting query parameter based on mtime by default.';
+$lang['default_showsize'] = 'Show file size by default (where supported).';
+$lang['default_showdate'] = 'Show last modified date by default (where supported).';
+$lang['default_listsep'] = 'Default separator used in list-style rendering (e.g. ", ").';
+$lang['default_maxheight'] = 'Default max-height in px for scroll container (-1 disables).';
+
+$lang['defaults'] = 'Legacy default options string (advanced). Existing values are still honored, but this is no longer configurable via the UI.';
 $lang['thumb_placeholder'] = 'MediaManager ID for the gallery thumbnail placeholder.';
 $lang['gallery_thumb_scale'] = 'Gallery thumbnail scale factor. Use 2 for sharper thumbnails on HiDPI screens (still displayed as 150×150).';
 $lang['open_service_url'] = 'Local client service URL for the {{open>...}} button (e.g. http://127.0.0.1:8765).';
diff --git a/lang/en/settings.php b/lang/en/settings.php
index b44bb2c..2e0e347 100644
--- a/lang/en/settings.php
+++ b/lang/en/settings.php
@@ -3,9 +3,25 @@
 $lang['paths'] = 'Allowed base paths (one per line). Optional: follow a path with A> alias.';
 $lang['scratchpad_paths'] = 'Scratchpad files (one per line). Each file path must include the extension; use a following A> line to set the pad name used in the wiki.';
 $lang['allow_in_comments'] = 'Whether to allow luxtools syntax (files/images/directory/scratchpad) to be used in comments.';
-$lang['defaults'] = 'Default options. Use the same syntax as in inline configuration';
 $lang['extensions'] = 'Comma-separated list of allowed file extensions to list';
 
+$lang['listing_defaults'] = 'Listing defaults';
+$lang['default_sort'] = 'Default sort key (name|iname|ctime|mtime|size).';
+$lang['default_order'] = 'Default sort order (asc|desc).';
+$lang['default_style'] = 'Default output style (list|olist|table).';
+$lang['default_tableheader'] = 'Render table header row by default.';
+$lang['default_foldersfirst'] = 'Group folders before files by default.';
+$lang['default_recursive'] = 'Recurse into subdirectories by default.';
+$lang['default_titlefile'] = 'Default title file name (e.g. _title.txt).';
+$lang['default_cache'] = 'Enable page caching by default (0 disables caching).';
+$lang['default_randlinks'] = 'Add cache-busting query parameter based on mtime by default.';
+$lang['default_showsize'] = 'Show file size by default (where supported).';
+$lang['default_showdate'] = 'Show last modified date by default (where supported).';
+$lang['default_listsep'] = 'Default separator used in list-style rendering (e.g. ", ").';
+$lang['default_maxheight'] = 'Default max-height in px for scroll container (-1 disables).';
+
+$lang['defaults'] = 'Legacy default options string (advanced). Existing values are still honored, but this is no longer configurable via the UI.';
+
 $lang['thumb_placeholder'] = 'MediaManager ID for the gallery thumbnail placeholder';
 
 $lang['gallery_thumb_scale'] = 'Gallery thumbnail scale factor. Use 2 for sharper thumbnails on HiDPI screens (still displayed as 150×150).';
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 11f3fed..43eb983 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -177,6 +177,73 @@ div.luxtools-scratchpad .luxtools-scratchpad-error {
     font-style: italic;
 }
 
+/* Admin: settings page form layout */
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: flex-start;
+    gap: 0.75em;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block > span {
+    flex: 0 0 35%;
+    text-align: left;
+    margin: 0;
+    padding-top: 0.2em;
+}
+
+/* The admin page markup uses <br/> to create a new line; in this layout we keep
+ * label + control in one row.
+ */
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block > br {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form textarea.edit,
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form input[type="text"].edit,
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form input[type="number"].edit,
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form select {
+    flex: 1 1 auto;
+    margin-left: auto;
+    width: auto;
+    max-width: 65%;
+    box-sizing: border-box;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+/* Dropdowns: don't stretch; size to content, but keep them on the right. */
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form select {
+    flex: 0 0 auto;
+    margin-left: 0;
+    width: max-content;
+    max-width: 65%;
+}
+
+/* Checkbox controls: keep them in the control column, left-aligned. */
+div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block input[type="checkbox"] {
+    margin-left: 0;
+    align-self: center;
+}
+
+/* On narrow screens, stack label and control to keep things readable. */
+@media (max-width: 600px) {
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block {
+        display: block;
+    }
+
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form label.block > br {
+        display: block;
+    }
+
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form textarea.edit,
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form input[type="text"].edit,
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form input[type="number"].edit,
+    div.plugin_luxtools_admin form.plugin_luxtools_admin_form select {
+        width: 100%;
+        max-width: 100%;
+    }
+}
+
 /* Disable background scrolling while the lightbox is open. */
 html.luxtools-noscroll,
 html.luxtools-noscroll body {
diff --git a/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php b/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
index eceab84..11a9b9a 100644
--- a/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
+++ b/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
@@ -163,26 +163,31 @@ abstract class syntax_plugin_luxtools_abstract extends SyntaxPlugin
     {
         // Base defaults shared by all handlers
         $baseDefaults = [
-            'sort' => 'name',
-            'order' => 'asc',
-            'style' => 'list',
-            'tableheader' => 0,
-            'foldersfirst' => 0,
-            'recursive' => 0,
-            'titlefile' => '_title.txt',
-            'cache' => 0,
-            'randlinks' => 0,
-            'showsize' => 0,
-            'showdate' => 0,
-            'listsep' => ', ',
-            'maxheight' => 500,
+            'sort' => (string)$this->getConf('default_sort'),
+            'order' => (string)$this->getConf('default_order'),
+            'style' => (string)$this->getConf('default_style'),
+            'tableheader' => (int)$this->getConf('default_tableheader'),
+            'foldersfirst' => (int)$this->getConf('default_foldersfirst'),
+            'recursive' => (int)$this->getConf('default_recursive'),
+            'titlefile' => (string)$this->getConf('default_titlefile'),
+            'cache' => (int)$this->getConf('default_cache'),
+            'randlinks' => (int)$this->getConf('default_randlinks'),
+            'showsize' => (int)$this->getConf('default_showsize'),
+            'showdate' => (int)$this->getConf('default_showdate'),
+            'listsep' => (string)$this->getConf('default_listsep'),
+            'maxheight' => (int)$this->getConf('default_maxheight'),
         ];
 
         // Merge with handler-specific defaults
         $params = array_merge($baseDefaults, $this->getDefaultParams());
 
-        // Load default config options and combine with provided flags
-        $flags = $this->getConf('defaults') . '&' . $flags;
+        // Legacy (advanced): allow additional default flags in the old combined string.
+        // This is not exposed in the admin UI anymore, but existing installs may
+        // still have it in conf/local.php.
+        $legacyDefaults = trim((string)$this->getConf('defaults'));
+
+        // Combine default flags and provided flags.
+        $flags = ($legacyDefaults !== '' ? ($legacyDefaults . '&') : '') . $flags;
         $flagList = explode('&', $flags);
 
         foreach ($flagList as $flag) {