diff --git a/apps/journal/app/routes/api.settings.passkey.delete.ts b/apps/journal/app/routes/api.settings.passkey.delete.ts
index e96dade..cd5406e 100644
--- a/apps/journal/app/routes/api.settings.passkey.delete.ts
+++ b/apps/journal/app/routes/api.settings.passkey.delete.ts
@@ -23,5 +23,8 @@ export async function action({ request }: Route.ActionArgs) {
     return data({ error: "Passkey not found" }, { status: 404 });
   }
 
-  return redirect("/settings#security");
+  // Settings is split into sections now; the bare /settings#security
+  // anchor resolves to /settings/profile. Send the user back to the
+  // security section they were on.
+  return redirect("/settings/security");
 }
diff --git a/e2e/explore.test.ts b/e2e/explore.test.ts
index 532f37b..b2c0809 100644
--- a/e2e/explore.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/explore.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ import { test, expect, waitForHydration, type CDPSession, type Page } from "./fi
 import { setupVirtualAuthenticator, registerUser } from "./helpers/auth";
 
 async function setProfileVisibility(page: Page, value: "public" | "private") {
-  await page.goto("/settings");
+  await page.goto("/settings/profile");
+  // Wait for hydration so the visibility form submits via the fetcher
+  // (and shows the "Profile saved." toast) instead of native-navigating.
+  await waitForHydration(page);
   await page.locator(`input[type=radio][name=profileVisibility][value=${value}]`).check();
   await page.getByRole("button", { name: /^Save$/ }).first().click();
   await expect(page.getByText("Profile saved.")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
diff --git a/e2e/settings.test.ts b/e2e/settings.test.ts
index 921be62..04cb6af 100644
--- a/e2e/settings.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/settings.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
-import { test, expect, type CDPSession, type Page } from "./fixtures/test";
+import { test, expect, waitForHydration, type Page } from "./fixtures/test";
 import { setupVirtualAuthenticator, removeVirtualAuthenticator, registerFreshUser } from "./helpers/auth";
 
+// Settings is split into sibling sections, each with a stable URL:
+//   /settings          → redirects to /settings/profile
+//   /settings/profile  → display name, bio, visibility
+//   /settings/security → passkeys
+//   /settings/account  → email change, account deletion
+// The left-hand section nav lists Profile / Account / Security /
+// Connected services as links.
+
 test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
   test("unauthenticated user is redirected to login", async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto("/settings");
@@ -14,9 +22,11 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
 
     await page.goto("/settings");
     await expect(page.getByRole("heading", { name: "Settings" })).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.getByText("Profile")).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.getByText("Security")).toBeVisible();
-    await expect(page.getByText("Account")).toBeVisible();
+    // Section nav links (the avatar dropdown is closed, so these names
+    // are unique to the settings section nav).
+    await expect(page.getByRole("link", { name: "Profile" })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("link", { name: "Security" })).toBeVisible();
+    await expect(page.getByRole("link", { name: "Account" })).toBeVisible();
 
     await removeVirtualAuthenticator(cdp, authenticatorId);
   });
@@ -26,17 +36,20 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     const { username } = await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    await page.goto("/settings");
+    await page.goto("/settings/profile");
+    await waitForHydration(page);
 
-    await page.getByLabel("Display Name").fill("Test Display Name");
-    await page.getByLabel("Bio").fill("I love hiking!");
+    // Target the inputs by id — robust against the Vite dev server
+    // transiently double-rendering the form during hydration.
+    await page.locator("#displayName").fill("Test Display Name");
+    await page.locator("#bio").fill("I love hiking!");
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Save" }).click();
     await expect(page.getByText("Profile saved")).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
 
     // Reload and verify persistence
     await page.reload();
-    await expect(page.getByLabel("Display Name")).toHaveValue("Test Display Name");
-    await expect(page.getByLabel("Bio")).toHaveValue("I love hiking!");
+    await expect(page.locator("#displayName")).toHaveValue("Test Display Name");
+    await expect(page.locator("#bio")).toHaveValue("I love hiking!");
 
     // Verify public profile reflects changes
     await page.goto(`/users/${username}`);
@@ -50,8 +63,8 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    await page.goto("/settings");
-    // Should show the passkey registered during registration
+    await page.goto("/settings/security");
+    // The passkey registered during sign-up shows as "This device".
     await expect(page.getByText("This device")).toBeVisible();
     await expect(page.getByText(/Added/)).toBeVisible();
 
@@ -63,7 +76,8 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    await page.goto("/settings");
+    await page.goto("/settings/security");
+    await waitForHydration(page);
 
     // Should have 1 passkey from registration
     const deleteButtons = page.getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" });
@@ -71,15 +85,14 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
 
     // Add another passkey
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Add Passkey" }).click();
-    await page.waitForTimeout(1000);
 
-    // After reload, should have 2 passkeys
+    // After the ceremony + reload, should have 2 passkeys
     await expect(deleteButtons).toHaveCount(2, { timeout: 5000 });
 
     // Delete one
     page.on("dialog", (dialog) => dialog.accept());
     await deleteButtons.first().click();
-    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/settings/, { timeout: 5000 });
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/settings\/security/, { timeout: 5000 });
     await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Delete" })).toHaveCount(1);
 
     await removeVirtualAuthenticator(cdp, authenticatorId);
@@ -90,7 +103,8 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    await page.goto("/settings");
+    await page.goto("/settings/security");
+    await waitForHydration(page);
 
     // Intercept the confirm dialog to check it contains the warning
     let dialogMessage = "";
@@ -113,8 +127,9 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     const { username } = await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    // Settings now lives inside the avatar dropdown; opening the
-    // dropdown reveals the menuitem.
+    // Settings lives inside the avatar dropdown; wait for hydration so
+    // the dropdown's open handler is wired before clicking it.
+    await waitForHydration(page);
     await page.getByRole("navigation").getByRole("button", { name: username }).click();
     await expect(page.getByRole("menuitem", { name: "Settings" })).toBeVisible();
 
@@ -123,7 +138,7 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
 
   test("settings link not visible when logged out", async ({ page }) => {
     await page.goto("/");
-    // Anonymous navbar has neither the avatar nor the Settings link.
+    // Anonymous navbar has neither the avatar nor a Settings link.
     await expect(page.getByRole("navigation").getByRole("link", { name: "Settings" })).not.toBeVisible();
   });
 
@@ -132,16 +147,17 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     const authenticatorId = await setupVirtualAuthenticator(cdp);
     const { username } = await registerFreshUser(page, "settings");
 
-    await page.goto("/settings");
+    await page.goto("/settings/account");
+    await waitForHydration(page);
 
-    // Click delete account
+    // Open the delete-account confirmation.
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Delete Account" }).click();
 
-    // Type wrong username — button should be disabled
+    // Wrong username — confirm button disabled
     await page.getByPlaceholder(username).fill("wrongname");
     await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Permanently Delete" })).toBeDisabled();
 
-    // Type correct username — button should be enabled
+    // Correct username — confirm button enabled
     await page.getByPlaceholder(username).fill(username);
     await expect(page.getByRole("button", { name: "Permanently Delete" })).toBeEnabled();
 
@@ -149,7 +165,7 @@ test.describe("Account Settings", () => {
     await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Permanently Delete" }).click();
     await expect(page).toHaveURL("/", { timeout: 10000 });
 
-    // Session should be destroyed — nav should show login
+    // Session destroyed — nav shows Sign In again
     await expect(page.getByRole("navigation").getByRole("link", { name: "Sign In" })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 5000 });
 
     await removeVirtualAuthenticator(cdp, authenticatorId);
diff --git a/playwright.config.ts b/playwright.config.ts
index c3c16f6..07140d1 100644
--- a/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/playwright.config.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   },
   // NOTE: specs only run if a project below matches them — a new
   // e2e/*.test.ts file MUST be registered here or it silently never
-  // executes (settings/explore/social sat unregistered for months).
+  // executes.
   projects: [
     {
       name: "journal",
@@ -90,6 +90,30 @@ export default defineConfig({
         baseURL: "http://localhost:3000",
       },
     },
+    {
+      name: "settings",
+      testMatch: "settings.test.ts",
+      use: {
+        ...devices["Desktop Chrome"],
+        baseURL: "http://localhost:3000",
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      name: "explore",
+      testMatch: "explore.test.ts",
+      use: {
+        ...devices["Desktop Chrome"],
+        baseURL: "http://localhost:3000",
+      },
+    },
+    {
+      name: "social",
+      testMatch: "social.test.ts",
+      use: {
+        ...devices["Desktop Chrome"],
+        baseURL: "http://localhost:3000",
+      },
+    },
   ],
   webServer: process.env.CI
     ? [