diff --git a/packages/cli/src/features/config/config.ts b/packages/cli/src/features/config/config.ts
index 622d1fd..5a0ce97 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/features/config/config.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/features/config/config.ts
@@ -1,59 +1,8 @@
-import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync } from 'node:fs';
-import { join } from 'node:path';
-import { ensureDir, getConfigDir } from '@spotify-confidence/core';
-
-type ConfigKey = 'project' | 'environment' | 'output' | 'profile' | 'ide';
-
-type Config = Partial<Record<ConfigKey, string>>;
-
-const VALID_KEYS: readonly ConfigKey[] = ['project', 'environment', 'output', 'profile', 'ide'];
-
-function configPath(): string {
-  return join(getConfigDir(), 'config.json');
-}
-
-export function readConfig(): Config {
-  const path = configPath();
-  if (!existsSync(path)) return {};
-  try {
-    return JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, 'utf-8')) as Config;
-  } catch {
-    return {};
-  }
-}
-
-function writeConfig(config: Config): void {
-  const path = configPath();
-  ensureDir(join(path, '..'));
-  writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2), { encoding: 'utf-8', mode: 0o600 });
-}
-
-export function getConfigValue(key: string): string | undefined {
-  validateKey(key);
-  return readConfig()[key as ConfigKey];
-}
-
-export function setConfigValue(key: string, value: string): void {
-  validateKey(key);
-  const config = readConfig();
-  config[key as ConfigKey] = value;
-  writeConfig(config);
-}
-
-export function resetConfig(): void {
-  writeConfig({});
-}
-
-export function isValidKey(key: string): key is ConfigKey {
-  return VALID_KEYS.includes(key as ConfigKey);
-}
-
-export function validKeys(): readonly string[] {
-  return VALID_KEYS;
-}
-
-function validateKey(key: string): asserts key is ConfigKey {
-  if (!isValidKey(key)) {
-    throw new Error(`Unknown config key "${key}". Valid keys: ${VALID_KEYS.join(', ')}`);
-  }
-}
+export {
+  readConfig,
+  getConfigValue,
+  setConfigValue,
+  resetConfig,
+  isValidKey,
+  validKeys,
+} from '@spotify-confidence/core';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config/config.ts b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1eb0cf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+import { ensureDir } from '../auth/credentials/store.js';
+import { getConfigDir } from '../auth/credentials/paths.js';
+
+type ConfigKey = 'project' | 'environment' | 'output' | 'profile' | 'ide';
+
+type Config = Partial<Record<ConfigKey, string>>;
+
+const VALID_KEYS: readonly ConfigKey[] = ['project', 'environment', 'output', 'profile', 'ide'];
+
+function configPath(): string {
+  return join(getConfigDir(), 'config.json');
+}
+
+export function readConfig(): Config {
+  const path = configPath();
+  if (!existsSync(path)) return {};
+  try {
+    return JSON.parse(readFileSync(path, 'utf-8')) as Config;
+  } catch {
+    return {};
+  }
+}
+
+function writeConfig(config: Config): void {
+  const path = configPath();
+  ensureDir(join(path, '..'));
+  writeFileSync(path, JSON.stringify(config, null, 2), { encoding: 'utf-8', mode: 0o600 });
+}
+
+export function getConfigValue(key: string): string | undefined {
+  validateKey(key);
+  return readConfig()[key as ConfigKey];
+}
+
+export function setConfigValue(key: string, value: string): void {
+  validateKey(key);
+  const config = readConfig();
+  config[key as ConfigKey] = value;
+  writeConfig(config);
+}
+
+export function resetConfig(): void {
+  writeConfig({});
+}
+
+export function isValidKey(key: string): key is ConfigKey {
+  return VALID_KEYS.includes(key as ConfigKey);
+}
+
+export function validKeys(): readonly string[] {
+  return VALID_KEYS;
+}
+
+function validateKey(key: string): asserts key is ConfigKey {
+  if (!isValidKey(key)) {
+    throw new Error(`Unknown config key "${key}". Valid keys: ${VALID_KEYS.join(', ')}`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/config/index.ts b/packages/core/src/config/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8717de7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/config/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+export {
+  readConfig,
+  getConfigValue,
+  setConfigValue,
+  resetConfig,
+  isValidKey,
+  validKeys,
+} from './config.js';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 2cc9d54..de5125a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -9,3 +9,4 @@ export * from './constants.js';
 export * from './frameworks/index.js';
 export * from './integrations/index.js';
 export * from './providers/index.js';
+export * from './config/index.js';
diff --git a/packages/core/src/session/session.ts b/packages/core/src/session/session.ts
index 27ea6ed..cd2acbf 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/session/session.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/session/session.ts
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ export function createSession(opts?: {
   debug?: boolean;
   dir?: string;
   goals?: OnboardingGoal[];
+  ide?: IdeId | null;
 }): WizardSession {
   return {
     sessionId: randomUUID(),
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ export function createSession(opts?: {
     projectDir: opts?.dir ?? process.cwd(),
     systemChecks: {},
     authState: { status: 'idle' },
-    ide: null,
+    ide: opts?.ide ?? null,
     pluginTargets: [],
     pluginInstallMethod: null,
     connectedMcps: [],
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/saved-ide.e2e.ts b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/saved-ide.e2e.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc17f0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/saved-ide.e2e.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import { createSession, navigatePastWelcome, buildTestJwt } from './testing-framework/index.js';
+
+describe('when IDE is saved in config from a previous run', () => {
+  it('auto-selects the saved IDE and skips the selection step', async () => {
+    using session = createSession({
+      token: buildTestJwt(),
+      config: { ide: 'cursor' },
+    });
+
+    await navigatePastWelcome(session);
+
+    // Auth — use existing account (token was pre-seeded)
+    await session.waitForText('Use existing account');
+    await session.press('Enter');
+    await session.waitForText('Authenticated');
+
+    // SelectGoal
+    await session.waitForText("Select the features you'd like to set up");
+    session.checkpoint();
+    await session.press('Space');
+    await session.press('Enter');
+
+    // InstallPlugins — should auto-select cursor without showing the IDE picker
+    await session.waitForText('Plugin set up successfully');
+    session.checkpoint();
+
+    // ConnectTools — confirms we advanced past InstallPlugins
+    await session.waitForText('Teach your AI Confidence');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/testing-framework/session-factory.ts b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/testing-framework/session-factory.ts
index a885bea..a6abb04 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/testing-framework/session-factory.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/e2e/testing-framework/session-factory.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import { createProjectDir, type ProjectType } from '@spotify-confidence/testing/
  * @param options.refreshToken - Refresh token written alongside the auth
  *   token. Pass `null` to simulate a missing refresh token.
  *   @defaultValue `'e2e-refresh-token'`
+ * @param options.config - Pre-seed Confidence config values (e.g. `{ ide: 'cursor' }`).
+ *   Written to `config.json` in the session's config directory.
  * @param options.systemPath - Override `PATH` to control which system
  *   binaries the wizard's system check can find.
  * @returns A disposable {@link TerminalSession} ready for interaction.
@@ -43,6 +45,7 @@ export function createSession({
   env = {},
   token,
   refreshToken = 'e2e-refresh-token',
+  config,
   systemPath,
 }: {
   project?: ProjectType;
@@ -50,6 +53,7 @@ export function createSession({
   env?: Record<string, string>;
   token?: string;
   refreshToken?: string | null;
+  config?: Record<string, string>;
   systemPath?: string;
 } = {}): TerminalSession {
   const mockBinDir = process.env.E2E_MOCK_BIN_DIR!;
@@ -60,15 +64,9 @@ export function createSession({
     ...env,
   };
 
-  if (token) {
+  if (token || config) {
     const configDir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'e2e-config-'));
-
-    const credentials: Record<string, string> = { accessToken: token };
-    if (refreshToken) {
-      credentials.refreshToken = refreshToken;
-    }
-
-    writeFileSync(join(configDir, 'credentials.json'), JSON.stringify(credentials), 'utf-8');
+    seedConfigDir(configDir, { token, refreshToken, config });
     sessionEnv.CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR = configDir;
   }
 
@@ -81,3 +79,22 @@ export function createSession({
   session.addTempDir(projectDir);
   return session;
 }
+
+function seedConfigDir(
+  dir: string,
+  opts: {
+    token?: string;
+    refreshToken?: string | null;
+    config?: Record<string, string>;
+  },
+): void {
+  if (opts.token) {
+    const credentials: Record<string, string> = { accessToken: opts.token };
+    if (opts.refreshToken) credentials.refreshToken = opts.refreshToken;
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, 'credentials.json'), JSON.stringify(credentials), 'utf-8');
+  }
+
+  if (opts.config) {
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify(opts.config), 'utf-8');
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/DoneScreen.test.tsx b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/DoneScreen.test.tsx
index 752c374..6680924 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/DoneScreen.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/DoneScreen.test.tsx
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { store } from '@ui/store.js';
 vi.mock('@spotify-confidence/core', async (importOriginal) => ({
   ...(await importOriginal<typeof import('@spotify-confidence/core')>()),
   launchChatSession: vi.fn(),
+  getConfigValue: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined),
 }));
 
 describe('DoneScreen', () => {
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/InstallPluginsScreen.test.tsx b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/InstallPluginsScreen.test.tsx
index 4c51083..89f5f2f 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/InstallPluginsScreen.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/quickstart/__tests__/ui/screens/InstallPluginsScreen.test.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   ARROW_DOWN,
   waitFor,
 } from '../testing-framework/index.js';
+import { createConfigDir } from '@spotify-confidence/testing/scaffold';
 import { InstallPluginsScreen } from '@ui/screens/install-plugins/index.js';
 import { ScreenId } from '@spotify-confidence/core';
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ vi.mock('@spotify-confidence/core', async (importOriginal) => ({
 
 describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   it('renders title', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     using sut = renderScreen(<InstallPluginsScreen />, { screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins });
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(sut.lastFrame()).toContain('Select agent to set up');
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('shows IDE selection when no plugins detected', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     using sut = renderScreen(<InstallPluginsScreen />, { screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins });
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(sut.lastFrame()).toContain('Claude Code');
@@ -36,6 +39,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('shows file system access warning during IDE selection', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     using sut = renderScreen(<InstallPluginsScreen />, { screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins });
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(sut.lastFrame()).toContain('full file system access');
@@ -43,6 +47,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('installs plugin and shows success', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     using project = createProjectDir();
     using sut = renderScreen(<InstallPluginsScreen />, {
       screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins,
@@ -61,6 +66,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('auto-advances after install', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     using project = createProjectDir();
     using sut = renderApp({ screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins, dir: project.path });
 
@@ -76,6 +82,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('shows continue option when plugins already installed', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     const { detectInstalledPlugins } = await import('@spotify-confidence/core');
     vi.mocked(detectInstalledPlugins).mockResolvedValueOnce([{ ide: 'claude', via: 'cli' }]);
 
@@ -94,6 +101,7 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
   });
 
   it('sorts detected IDEs above non-detected ones', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     const { detectInstalledPlugins } = await import('@spotify-confidence/core');
     vi.mocked(detectInstalledPlugins).mockResolvedValueOnce([
       { ide: 'claude', via: 'cli' },
@@ -112,7 +120,37 @@ describe('InstallPluginsScreen', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('auto-selects IDE from config and advances without user input', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir({ ide: 'cursor' });
+    using project = createProjectDir();
+    using sut = renderApp({ screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins, dir: project.path });
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sut.lastFrame()).toContain('Teach your AI Confidence');
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('saves IDE selection to config', async () => {
+    using config = createConfigDir();
+    using project = createProjectDir();
+    using sut = renderScreen(<InstallPluginsScreen />, {
+      screen: ScreenId.InstallPlugins,
+      dir: project.path,
+    });
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(sut.lastFrame()).toContain('Claude Code');
+    });
+
+    await act(() => sut.stdin.write(ENTER));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(config.readConfig()).toEqual(expect.objectContaining({ ide: 'claude' }));
+    });
+  });
+
   it('shows error and retry option on install failure', async () => {
+    using _config = createConfigDir();
     const { installPlugin } = await import('@spotify-confidence/core');
     vi.mocked(installPlugin).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('Installation failed'));
 
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/lib/ide-config.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/lib/ide-config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b5ea0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/lib/ide-config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+import { getConfigValue, setConfigValue } from '@spotify-confidence/core';
+import type { IdeId } from '@spotify-confidence/shared-kernel';
+
+const VALID_IDE_IDS: readonly IdeId[] = ['claude', 'cursor', 'codex'];
+
+export function readSavedIde(): IdeId | null {
+  try {
+    const saved = getConfigValue('ide');
+    if (saved && VALID_IDE_IDS.includes(saved as IdeId)) return saved as IdeId;
+  } catch {
+    // config read failed — ignore
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+export function saveIdeToConfig(ide: IdeId): void {
+  try {
+    setConfigValue('ide', ide);
+  } catch {
+    // config write failed — non-critical
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/BottomPrompt.tsx b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/BottomPrompt.tsx
index cb86809..8e8f4d0 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/BottomPrompt.tsx
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/BottomPrompt.tsx
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export function BottomPrompt({ phase, detected, onSelect, onError }: BottomPromp
     }
 
     case 'detecting':
+    case 'restoring':
     case 'installing':
     case 'updating':
     case 'done':
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/MainContent.tsx b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/MainContent.tsx
index 042eb52..653e1f2 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/MainContent.tsx
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/components/MainContent.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ export function MainContent({ phase, detected, error }: MainContentProps) {
       )}
 
       {phase === 'detecting' && <Spinner label="Checking for Confidence AI plugins..." />}
+      {phase === 'restoring' && <Spinner label="Checking previously selected IDE..." />}
 
       {phase === 'already-installed' && (
         <>
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/log-messages.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/log-messages.ts
index 7f9a892..c183023 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/log-messages.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/log-messages.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ export function pluginInstalled(ide: string | null | undefined): LogMessage {
   return { input: ide ?? 'unknown', output: `Installed for ${ide}` };
 }
 
+export function pluginRestoredFromConfig(ide: string): LogMessage {
+  return { input: '(auto — from config)', output: ide };
+}
+
 export function pluginExitedAfterError(error: string | null): LogMessage {
   return { input: 'Exit (after error)', output: error ?? 'Setup failed' };
 }
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/telemetry-events.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/telemetry-events.ts
index ccc95e1..68f672f 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/telemetry-events.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/telemetry-events.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ export function pluginIdeSelected(ide: string): TelemetryEvent {
   return { step: 'install-plugins.ide', action: ide };
 }
 
+export function pluginIdeRestoredFromConfig(ide: string): TelemetryEvent {
+  return { step: 'install-plugins.ide', action: `restored:${ide}`, sentiment: 'positive' };
+}
+
 export function pluginExitedAfterError(): TelemetryEvent {
   return { step: 'install-plugins.exit', action: 'exited-after-error', sentiment: 'frustrated' };
 }
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/useInitialDetection.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/useInitialDetection.ts
index 53e80ab..59cba36 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/useInitialDetection.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/useInitialDetection.ts
@@ -13,17 +13,21 @@ export function useInitialDetection(): InitialDetection {
   const session = useSession();
   const [phase, setPhase] = useState<PluginPhase>(session.dryRun ? 'choose-ide' : 'detecting');
   const [detected, setDetected] = useState<IdeId[]>([]);
+  const [savedIde] = useState<IdeId | null>(() => session.ide);
 
-  const applyResults = useCallback(function applyResults(found: InstalledPlugin[]) {
-    const ides = found.map((d) => d.ide);
-    setDetected(ides);
-    setPhase(found.length > 0 ? 'already-installed' : 'choose-ide');
+  const applyResults = useCallback(
+    function applyResults(found: InstalledPlugin[]) {
+      const ides = found.map((d) => d.ide);
+      setDetected(ides);
+      setPhase(savedIde ? 'restoring' : found.length > 0 ? 'already-installed' : 'choose-ide');
 
-    if (found.length > 0) {
-      store.setPluginTargets(ides);
-      store.setPluginInstallMethod(found[0].via);
-    }
-  }, []);
+      if (found.length > 0) {
+        store.setPluginTargets(ides);
+        store.setPluginInstallMethod(found[0].via);
+      }
+    },
+    [savedIde],
+  );
 
   useEffect(
     function resolveInitialDetection() {
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/usePluginInstall.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/usePluginInstall.ts
index 642bfee..68e6af0 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/usePluginInstall.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/screens/install-plugins/usePluginInstall.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,20 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import type { IdeId } from '@spotify-confidence/shared-kernel';
 import { prepareIde, installPlugin, updatePlugin, track } from '@spotify-confidence/core';
 import { $session, store } from '../../store.js';
 import { useInitialDetection } from './useInitialDetection.js';
-import { pluginInstallFailed } from './telemetry-events.js';
+import { pluginInstallFailed, pluginIdeRestoredFromConfig } from './telemetry-events.js';
+import { saveIdeToConfig } from '../../lib/ide-config.js';
 
 export type PluginPhase =
-  'detecting' | 'already-installed' | 'choose-ide' | 'installing' | 'updating' | 'done' | 'error';
+  | 'detecting'
+  | 'restoring'
+  | 'already-installed'
+  | 'choose-ide'
+  | 'installing'
+  | 'updating'
+  | 'done'
+  | 'error';
 
 export type PluginInstallState = {
   phase: PluginPhase;
@@ -22,40 +30,59 @@ export function usePluginInstall(): PluginInstallState {
 
   const phase = installPhase ?? initial.phase;
 
-  function selectIde(ide: IdeId) {
-    const isDetected = initial.detected.includes(ide);
-
-    store.setIde(ide);
-    setInstallPhase(isDetected ? 'updating' : 'installing');
-
-    if ($session.get().dryRun) return setupDryRun(ide);
-    setupRealPlugin(ide, isDetected);
-  }
-
-  function setupDryRun(ide: IdeId) {
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      store.setPluginTargets([ide]);
-      store.setPluginInstallMethod('download');
-      setInstallPhase('done');
-    }, 1000);
-  }
-
-  function setupRealPlugin(ide: IdeId, shouldUpdate: boolean) {
-    const action = shouldUpdate ? updatePlugin : installPlugin;
-
-    prepareIde(ide)
-      .then(() => action(ide, $session.get().projectDir))
-      .then((method) => {
-        store.setPluginTargets([ide]);
-        store.setPluginInstallMethod(method);
-        setInstallPhase('done');
-      })
-      .catch((err) => {
-        setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Plugin setup failed');
-        track(pluginInstallFailed());
-        setInstallPhase('error');
-      });
-  }
-
-  return { phase, detected: initial.detected, error, selectIde };
+  const selectIde = useCallback(
+    function selectIde(ide: IdeId) {
+      const isDetected = initial.detected.includes(ide);
+
+      store.setIde(ide);
+      saveIdeToConfig(ide);
+      setInstallPhase(isDetected ? 'updating' : 'installing');
+
+      if ($session.get().dryRun) {
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          store.setPluginTargets([ide]);
+          store.setPluginInstallMethod('download');
+          setInstallPhase('done');
+        }, 1000);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const action = isDetected ? updatePlugin : installPlugin;
+
+      prepareIde(ide)
+        .then(() => action(ide, $session.get().projectDir))
+        .then((method) => {
+          store.setPluginTargets([ide]);
+          store.setPluginInstallMethod(method);
+          setInstallPhase('done');
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Plugin setup failed');
+          track(pluginInstallFailed());
+          setInstallPhase('error');
+        });
+    },
+    [initial.detected],
+  );
+
+  useEffect(
+    function autoSelectSavedIde() {
+      if (initial.phase !== 'restoring') return;
+      if (installPhase !== null) return;
+
+      const ide = $session.get().ide;
+      if (!ide) return;
+
+      track(pluginIdeRestoredFromConfig(ide));
+      queueMicrotask(() => selectIde(ide));
+    },
+    [initial.phase, installPhase, selectIde],
+  );
+
+  return {
+    phase,
+    error,
+    detected: initial.detected,
+    selectIde,
+  };
 }
diff --git a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/store.ts b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/store.ts
index 1eb77e8..6597eae 100644
--- a/packages/quickstart/src/ui/store.ts
+++ b/packages/quickstart/src/ui/store.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   ScreenId,
   createSession,
 } from '@spotify-confidence/core';
+import { readSavedIde } from './lib/ide-config.js';
 
 export type StoreOptions = {
   dryRun?: boolean;
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ export const store = {
         debug: opts?.debug,
         dir: opts?.dir,
         goals: opts?.goals,
+        ide: opts?.dryRun ? null : readSavedIde(),
       }),
     ),
 
diff --git a/packages/testing/src/scaffold/config-scaffold.ts b/packages/testing/src/scaffold/config-scaffold.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ec084f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/testing/src/scaffold/config-scaffold.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+import { mkdirSync, mkdtempSync, readFileSync, rmSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
+import { join } from 'node:path';
+
+type ConfigValues = Record<string, string>;
+
+const FILE_CONFIG = { encoding: 'utf-8', mode: 0o600 } as const;
+
+/**
+ * Creates an isolated config directory and sets `CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR`
+ * to point to it. Optionally seeds `config.json` with initial values.
+ * Supports `Symbol.dispose` for automatic cleanup.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * using config = createConfigDir();
+ * using config = createConfigDir({ ide: 'cursor' });
+ * ```
+ */
+export function createConfigDir(initial?: ConfigValues) {
+  const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), 'confidence-config-test-'));
+  const prev = process.env['CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR'];
+  process.env['CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR'] = dir;
+
+  if (initial) {
+    mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+    writeFileSync(join(dir, 'config.json'), JSON.stringify(initial, null, 2), FILE_CONFIG);
+  }
+
+  return {
+    path: dir,
+    readConfig(): ConfigValues {
+      try {
+        return JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(dir, 'config.json'), 'utf-8'));
+      } catch {
+        return {};
+      }
+    },
+    [Symbol.dispose]() {
+      if (prev === undefined) delete process.env['CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR'];
+      else process.env['CONFIDENCE_CONFIG_DIR'] = prev;
+      try {
+        rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+      } catch {
+        // best-effort cleanup
+      }
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/packages/testing/src/scaffold/index.ts b/packages/testing/src/scaffold/index.ts
index d981181..53eb232 100644
--- a/packages/testing/src/scaffold/index.ts
+++ b/packages/testing/src/scaffold/index.ts
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
+export { createConfigDir } from './config-scaffold.js';
 export { createProjectDir } from './project-scaffold.js';
 export type { ProjectType } from './types.js';