diff --git a/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go b/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
index b55cab8cbf..89b71eb6cb 100644
--- a/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
+++ b/pkg/wconfig/settingsconfig.go
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ type SettingsType struct {
 	PreviewDefaultSort     string `json:"preview:defaultsort,omitempty" jsonschema:"enum=name,enum=modtime"`
 
 	TabPreset       string `json:"tab:preset,omitempty"`
+	TabNewTabLayout any    `json:"tab:newtablayout,omitempty"`
 	TabConfirmClose bool   `json:"tab:confirmclose,omitempty"`
 	TabBackground   string `json:"tab:background,omitempty"`
 
diff --git a/pkg/wcore/workspace.go b/pkg/wcore/workspace.go
index c01e509a13..8d0586dd3f 100644
--- a/pkg/wcore/workspace.go
+++ b/pkg/wcore/workspace.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package wcore
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"regexp"
@@ -195,6 +196,23 @@ func getTabBackground() string {
 	return config.Settings.TabPreset
 }
 
+// getNewTabLayoutFromConfig returns the user-configured layout for new tabs,
+// falling back to the default single-terminal layout if not configured.
+func getNewTabLayoutFromConfig() PortableLayout {
+	settings := wconfig.GetWatcher().GetFullConfig()
+	rawLayout := settings.Settings.TabNewTabLayout
+	if rawLayout != nil {
+		barr, err := json.Marshal(rawLayout)
+		if err == nil {
+			var layout PortableLayout
+			if json.Unmarshal(barr, &layout) == nil && len(layout) > 0 {
+				return layout
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return GetNewTabLayout()
+}
+
 var tabNameRe = regexp.MustCompile(`^T(\d+)$`)
 
 // getNextTabName returns the next auto-generated tab name (e.g. "T3") given a
@@ -250,7 +268,7 @@ func CreateTab(ctx context.Context, workspaceId string, tabName string, activate
 
 	// No need to apply an initial layout for the initial launch, since the starter layout will get applied after onboarding modal dismissal
 	if !isInitialLaunch {
-		err = ApplyPortableLayout(ctx, tab.OID, GetNewTabLayout(), true)
+		err = ApplyPortableLayout(ctx, tab.OID, getNewTabLayoutFromConfig(), true)
 		if err != nil {
 			return tab.OID, fmt.Errorf("error applying new tab layout: %w", err)
 		}
diff --git a/schema/settings.json b/schema/settings.json
index 67d8f5b9d4..75bd49f7f6 100644
--- a/schema/settings.json
+++ b/schema/settings.json
@@ -229,6 +229,28 @@
         "tab:preset": {
           "type": "string"
         },
+        "tab:newtablayout": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "description": "Custom block layout for new tabs. Each element defines a block with its position in the tile tree. If not set, defaults to a single terminal block.",
+          "items": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+              "indexarr": {
+                "type": "array",
+                "items": {"type": "integer"},
+                "description": "Path in the tile tree (e.g. [0] = first child, [1] = second child, [1,1] = second child of second child)"
+              },
+              "size": {"type": "integer", "description": "Relative size/weight of the block"},
+              "blockdef": {
+                "type": "object",
+                "properties": {"meta": {"type": "object"}},
+                "description": "Block definition with meta (view, controller, file, url, etc.)"
+              },
+              "focused": {"type": "boolean", "description": "Whether this block should receive focus"}
+            },
+            "required": ["indexarr", "blockdef"]
+          }
+        },
         "tab:confirmclose": {
           "type": "boolean"
         },