diff --git a/crates/pf-host-config/src/lib.rs b/crates/pf-host-config/src/lib.rs
index 5652add0..4595b726 100644
--- a/crates/pf-host-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/pf-host-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,9 @@ pub struct HostConfig {
     pub chacha20: bool,
     /// `PUNKTFUNK_PERF` — per-stage timing instrumentation.
     pub perf: bool,
-    /// `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE` — GameStream video source select (`virtual` / `portal` / unset → synthetic).
+    /// `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE` — GameStream video source select. `virtual` (the default — a
+    /// per-client virtual output at the client's own mode) / `portal` (capture an existing
+    /// monitor); anything else, including the literal `synthetic`, gets the test pattern.
     pub video_source: Option<String>,
     /// `PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR` — pin capture at a NAMED physical monitor (`DP-1`, `HDMI-A-2`),
     /// instead of creating a virtual display or taking whichever head the portal hands back. The
@@ -247,7 +249,11 @@ impl HostConfig {
             perf: flag("PUNKTFUNK_PERF"),
             // Default ON while the interval-stutter field program runs (see the field doc).
             stall_probes: env_on("PUNKTFUNK_STALL_PROBES").unwrap_or(true),
-            video_source: val("PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE"),
+            // Defaults to `virtual` — the flagship per-client virtual output. It used to be unset,
+            // which fell through to the synthetic test pattern: fine for a dev box that always has
+            // a host.env, wrong for a packaged install, whose unit no longer requires that file at
+            // all. `synthetic` is still reachable by naming it (any unrecognised value lands there).
+            video_source: val("PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE").or_else(|| Some("virtual".to_string())),
             // Trimmed + emptied-to-None: `PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR=` in a host.env means "not
             // set", not "match the monitor named empty string".
             capture_monitor: val("PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR")
diff --git a/docs-site/content/docs/configuration.md b/docs-site/content/docs/configuration.md
index 7a26a5cc..b45ef24e 100644
--- a/docs-site/content/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs-site/content/docs/configuration.md
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ redundant or stale.
 | Setting | Values | Meaning |
 |---|---|---|
 | `PUNKTFUNK_COMPOSITOR` | `kwin` · `mutter` · `gamescope` · `wlroots` · `hyprland` (aliases: `kde`/`plasma`, `gnome`, `sway`/`wlr`) | Which backend creates the virtual display. `wlroots` is sway/River; `hyprland` is its own backend. **Leave unset.** Setting it **pins** the backend and turns session-following **off** — per connect *and* mid-stream, so a Desktop ↔ Gaming switch kills the stream instead of being followed. For CI/tests and dedicated single-session appliances only. |
-| `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE` | `virtual` · `portal` | **GameStream/Moonlight sessions only** — it has no effect on the native `punktfunk/1` plane. `virtual` creates a per-client display at the client's exact mode (the normal choice); `portal` captures an existing monitor instead, and is what the GNOME 50+ HDR monitor mirror needs — see [HDR](/docs/hdr#linux--gnome). To stream a physical monitor to a Punktfunk app, use `PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR` below, or the console's **Streamed screen**. |
+| `PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE` | `virtual` (default) · `portal` | **GameStream/Moonlight sessions only** — it has no effect on the native `punktfunk/1` plane. `virtual` creates a per-client display at the client's exact mode (the normal choice); `portal` captures an existing monitor instead, and is what the GNOME 50+ HDR monitor mirror needs — see [HDR](/docs/hdr#linux--gnome). To stream a physical monitor to a Punktfunk app, use `PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR` below, or the console's **Streamed screen**. |
 | `PUNKTFUNK_CAPTURE_MONITOR` | a connector name (`HDMI-A-1`, `DP-2`, …) | Stream a **physical** monitor this host already has instead of creating a virtual display — see [Streamed screen](/docs/virtual-displays#stream-a-real-monitor-instead). List the names with `punktfunk-host list-monitors`. Setting it here **outranks the web console's** choice, so an appliance stays aimed where its operator pointed it; leave it unset to steer from the console. A name that matches no monitor fails the session loudly rather than streaming a different screen. Linux only. |
 | `PUNKTFUNK_ZEROCOPY` | `1` · `0` *(default on)* | GPU zero-copy capture→encode (dmabuf → CUDA → NVENC, or D3D11 on Windows). **On by default** — no need to set it; it falls back to a CPU path automatically. Set `0` to force the CPU path. One exception: Windows **Intel/QSV** keeps the CPU path by default until zero-copy is validated on Intel hardware — set `1` to try it there. |
 | `PUNKTFUNK_INPUT_BACKEND` | `libei` · `kwin` · `gamescope` · `wlr` | How input is injected. `kwin` (KWin fake-input) for KDE — direct injection with no portal approval dialog, so it also works on a headless KDE box; `libei` (the RemoteDesktop portal) for GNOME; `gamescope` for Bazzite/gamescope; `wlr` for Sway/wlroots **and Hyprland**. Auto-detected with the compositor; a value that isn't one of the four is ignored and detection runs anyway. |
diff --git a/scripts/host.env.example b/scripts/host.env.example
index abd3e9a3..1f17208a 100644
--- a/scripts/host.env.example
+++ b/scripts/host.env.example
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@
 # YOU BARELY NEED THIS FILE. The host AUTO-DETECTS the live session per connect — which compositor
 # is running (KWin / Mutter / sway / Hyprland / gamescope), its Wayland socket, session bus, and the
 # matching input backend — and FOLLOWS the box when it switches between a desktop and Steam Gaming
-# Mode, even mid-stream. Everything below except PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE is an optional override.
+# Mode, even mid-stream. EVERYTHING below is an optional override — the host runs with sane
+# defaults if this file does not exist at all (its systemd unit no longer requires it).
 #
 # Two rules that save debugging sessions:
 #   * Keys are CASE-SENSITIVE. `punktfunk_gamescope_attach=1` sets nothing — use the exact
@@ -13,9 +14,10 @@
 #     Mode mid-stream then kills the stream instead of being followed), and stale session vars
 #     point detection at dead sockets. Those knobs are for CI and dedicated appliances (below).
 
-# Video source: `virtual` creates a per-client virtual output at the client's exact
-# resolution+refresh (the flagship mode); `portal` captures an existing monitor.
-PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE=virtual
+# Video source (GameStream/Moonlight sessions only): `virtual` creates a per-client virtual
+# output at the client's exact resolution+refresh (the flagship mode, and the default);
+# `portal` captures an existing monitor.
+#PUNKTFUNK_VIDEO_SOURCE=virtual
 
 # GPU zero-copy capture (dmabuf → CUDA → NVENC / VAAPI / Vulkan) is ON by default and falls back to
 # CPU automatically. No need to set it. Set to 0 only to force the CPU path.