diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 89ba36e..691c9c5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -330,8 +330,10 @@ binding `window.__sfuiStoreSave`; the service writes the file atomically,
 only on change, only for that page's `state` patches, at most 64 KiB. Used
 by the [window control bar](#window-control-bar-dashboardframecontrols)
 and the [Steam close button](#steam-close-button-dashboardsteamclosebuttonenable).
-The file is user data, not generated by Nix; see
-[Changes outside Nix](#changes-outside-nix).
+The file is user data, not generated by Nix: it is kept when the patch is
+disabled or removed (the choices come back when you enable it again) and
+removed only by `steam-frame-nix-cleanup --all` or `install.sh uninstall`;
+see [Changes outside Nix](#changes-outside-nix).
 
 **DevTools on the LAN:** Steam's Developer Mode enables
 `steam-web-debug-portforward` (`0.0.0.0:8081` → `8080`) and
@@ -764,8 +766,7 @@ controller), and theater windows have no "Float".
   popup moves that control between bar and menu **for all windows**.
   Placements survive SteamVR restarts and reboots (saved in
   `~/.local/state/steam-frame-nix/ui-patches/frame-controls.json`, see
-  [persistent state](#ui-patches-uipatchespatches); version 4 kept them in
-  localStorage, which SteamVR wipes on every start, and is migrated once).
+  [persistent state](#ui-patches-uipatchespatches)).
 - `inBar` / `inMenu` set where controls start; a popup choice wins until
   that control's entry changes.
 - `floatInTheater` gives theater windows the "Float" control.
@@ -930,7 +931,7 @@ the feature off:
 
 | Path | What, why | Cleanup |
 |---|---|---|
-| `~/.local/state/steam-frame-nix/ui-patches/<name>.json` | Choices made in the dashboard: window control bar placements (`frame-controls.json`), "Steam hidden" (`steam-close-button.json`). Written by `steam-ui-patches` because SteamOS's `steamvr.service` deletes `~/.cache/SteamVR` (the dashboard's own browser storage) on every SteamVR start. Kept when a feature is disabled (your choices come back when you re-enable it). | `rm -rf ~/.local/state/steam-frame-nix/ui-patches` (also done by `install.sh uninstall`) |
+| `~/.local/state/steam-frame-nix/ui-patches/<name>.json` | Choices made in the dashboard: window control bar placements (`frame-controls.json`), "Steam hidden" (`steam-close-button.json`). Written by `steam-ui-patches` because SteamOS's `steamvr.service` deletes `~/.cache/SteamVR` (the dashboard's own browser storage) on every SteamVR start. Kept when a feature is disabled (your choices come back when you re-enable it). | `steam-frame-nix-cleanup --all` (also run by `install.sh uninstall`) |
 
 ## Rollback
 
diff --git a/modules/frame-controls/patch.js b/modules/frame-controls/patch.js
index 019caf0..8574770 100644
--- a/modules/frame-controls/patch.js
+++ b/modules/frame-controls/patch.js
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@
 // ~/.local/state/steam-frame-nix/ui-patches/frame-controls.json), which
 // seeds a fresh page (SteamVR restart, reboot, reload). localStorage can't
 // do that: steamvr.service deletes ~/.cache/SteamVR (vrwebhelper's profile)
-// on every start. Version 4's localStorage copy is read once as a fallback
-// (migration) and removed once the file has the state.
+// on every start (which also took version 4's localStorage copy with it).
 //
 // Long press: the dashboard only gets primary-button laser input (no right
 // click; thumbstick click arrives as nothing). Holding changes nothing; the
@@ -69,9 +68,8 @@
 // setPlacement(name or "icon:N", 'bar' | 'menu' | null), reset().
 ((find, sigs, opts) => {
   const NAME = 'frame-controls';
-  const VERSION = 5;
+  const VERSION = 6;
   const T_SPACER = 1, T_ACTION = 2;
-  const LS_KEY = 'sfui.frameControls.v1';        // version <= 4 (migration only)
   // Action icon enums (sigs.controls anchors them): names for the options.
   const NAMES = { keyboard: 22, float: 26, dashboard: 27, theater: 28, dockLeft: 29, dockRight: 30, close: 31, curvature: 40 };
   const ICON = { more: 38, float: 26, dashboard: 27 };
@@ -118,13 +116,9 @@
   const store = window.__sfuiStore;               // injector's persistent store (absent: in-page only)
   let S = window.__sfuiFrameControlsState, restored = null;
   if (S?.schema !== 1) {
-    let saved = store?.get(NAME), from = 'file';
-    if (saved?.schema !== 1) {
-      from = 'localStorage';
-      try { saved = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(LS_KEY) ?? 'null'); } catch { saved = null; }
-    }
+    const saved = store?.get(NAME);
     const ok = saved?.schema === 1 && saved.placement && typeof saved.placement === 'object';
-    restored = ok ? from : 'nothing';
+    restored = ok ? 'file' : 'nothing';
     S = window.__sfuiFrameControlsState = { schema: 1, placement: ok ? { ...saved.placement } : {}, nixSeen: ok ? { ...saved.nixSeen } : {}, log: [] };
   }
   const logBuf = S.log ??= [];
@@ -136,7 +130,6 @@
   let unsaved = true;                             // last save not sent (no injector binding): retried by check()
   const save = () => {
     unsaved = !store?.set?.(NAME, { schema: 1, placement: { ...S.placement }, nixSeen: { ...S.nixSeen } });
-    if (!unsaved) { try { localStorage.removeItem(LS_KEY); } catch { /* none */ } }
   };
   for (const k of new Set([...Object.keys(optMap), ...Object.keys(S.nixSeen)])) {
     if (S.nixSeen[k] !== optMap[k] && k in S.placement) {
diff --git a/modules/steam-ui-patches.nix b/modules/steam-ui-patches.nix
index 8408013..5f8be44 100644
--- a/modules/steam-ui-patches.nix
+++ b/modules/steam-ui-patches.nix
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 # It exists while `patches` is non-empty, restarts on every switch (the old
 # instance reverts removed patches) and is stopped once the list is empty.
 # Patches with `state = true` get a persistent JSON value (injector.mjs:
-# "Persistent state"). Patch calling convention (mkPatch): lib/default.nix.
+# "Persistent state"), kept when the patch goes and removed by
+# steam-frame-nix-cleanup --all. Patch calling convention (mkPatch):
+# lib/default.nix.
 { config, pkgs, lib, ... }:
 let
   cfg = config.steamFrame.uiPatches;
@@ -73,7 +75,10 @@ let
           SteamVR restarts and reboots: the page reads it with
           `window.__sfuiStore.get(name)` and writes it with
           `window.__sfuiStore.set(name, value)` (see injector.mjs). The file
-          is user data and stays when the patch is removed.
+          is kept when the patch is disabled or removed (the choices come
+          back when it is enabled again) and removed by
+          `steam-frame-nix-cleanup --all` (also run by `install.sh
+          uninstall`).
         '';
       };
     };
diff --git a/modules/steam-ui-patches/injector.mjs b/modules/steam-ui-patches/injector.mjs
index 9f1a380..9daab8e 100644
--- a/modules/steam-ui-patches/injector.mjs
+++ b/modules/steam-ui-patches/injector.mjs
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@
 // authoritative from then on. set() goes through the CDP binding
 // window.__sfuiStoreSave('{"name","value"}'), which this process writes to the
 // file (atomically, only on change, only for "state" patches of that target,
-// at most 64 KiB). The file is user data: nothing deletes it.
+// at most 64 KiB). The file is user data: kept when the patch is disabled or
+// removed, deleted only by steam-frame-nix-cleanup --all (install.sh
+// uninstall).
 import { mkdirSync, readFileSync, renameSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { join } from 'node:path';