diff --git a/docs/pages/index.vue b/docs/pages/index.vue
index c08cf036c..1bdfc537a 100644
--- a/docs/pages/index.vue
+++ b/docs/pages/index.vue
@@ -22,14 +22,15 @@ const { data } = await useAsyncData('landing', () => {
     queryContent('/').findOne(),
   ])
 })
-const [getStarted, page] = data.value
+
+const [getStarted, page] = data.value! || []
 
 const intervalId = ref()
 const currentStep = ref(0)
 const projectsSectionVisible = ref(false)
 const nuxtProjectsSection = ref(null)
 
-const { data: module } = await useFetch<{
+const { data: mod } = await useFetch<{
   stats: {
     downloads: number
     stars: number
@@ -216,9 +217,9 @@ watch(projectsSectionVisible, () => {
         </template>
 
         <template #links>
-          <UAvatarGroup :max="13" size="md" class="flex-wrap lg:self-start [&_span:first-child]:text-xs">
+          <UAvatarGroup v-if="mod" :max="13" size="md" class="flex-wrap lg:self-start [&_span:first-child]:text-xs">
             <UTooltip
-              v-for="(contributor, idx) of module.contributors" :key="idx" :text="contributor.username"
+              v-for="(contributor, idx) of mod.contributors" :key="idx" :text="contributor.username"
               class="rounded-full" :ui="{ background: 'bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800/50' }"
               :popper="{ offsetDistance: 16 }"
             >
@@ -241,12 +242,12 @@ watch(projectsSectionVisible, () => {
           </p>
         </template>
 
-        <div class="flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-8 sm:flex-row lg:gap-16">
+        <div v-if="mod" class="flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-8 sm:flex-row lg:gap-16">
           <NuxtLink class="group text-center" to="https://npmjs.org/package/@nuxt/devtools" target="_blank">
             <p
               class="group-hover:text-primary-500 dark:group-hover:text-primary-400 text-6xl font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-white"
             >
-              {{ formatNumber(module.stats.downloads) }}+
+              {{ formatNumber(mod.stats.downloads) }}+
             </p>
             <p>Monthly Downloads</p>
           </NuxtLink>
@@ -255,7 +256,7 @@ watch(projectsSectionVisible, () => {
             <p
               class="group-hover:text-primary-500 dark:group-hover:text-primary-400 text-6xl font-semibold text-gray-900 dark:text-white"
             >
-              {{ formatNumber(module.stats.stars) }}+
+              {{ formatNumber(mod.stats.stars) }}+
             </p>
             <p>Stars</p>
           </NuxtLink>
diff --git a/packages/devtools-kit/src/_types/options.ts b/packages/devtools-kit/src/_types/options.ts
index 376aa65c2..26b0a87c3 100644
--- a/packages/devtools-kit/src/_types/options.ts
+++ b/packages/devtools-kit/src/_types/options.ts
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ export interface NuxtDevToolsOptions {
     scale: number
     showExperimentalFeatures: boolean
     showHelpButtons: boolean
+    showPanel: boolean | null
     sidebarExpanded: boolean
     sidebarScrollable: boolean
   }
diff --git a/packages/devtools/client/pages/index.vue b/packages/devtools/client/pages/index.vue
index dc4df16be..78e83f07f 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/client/pages/index.vue
+++ b/packages/devtools/client/pages/index.vue
@@ -6,9 +6,16 @@ definePageMeta({
 })
 
 const telemetry = ref(true)
+const enableFloatPanel = ref(true)
+
+const {
+  showPanel,
+} = useDevToolsUIOptions()
 
 function visit() {
   telemetryEnabled.value = telemetry.value
+  if (showPanel.value == null && enableFloatPanel.value)
+    showPanel.value = true
   isFirstVisit.value = false
 }
 </script>
@@ -34,9 +41,14 @@ function visit() {
     </NButton>
 
     <div absolute bottom-0 left-0 right-0 p4>
-      <NCheckbox v-model="telemetry">
-        <span op50>Send anonymous statistics, help us improving DevTools</span>
-      </NCheckbox>
+      <div flex="~ col gap-2" mxa w-max>
+        <NCheckbox v-if="showPanel == null" v-model="enableFloatPanel" n="green6">
+          <span op50>Show floating panel from now on</span>
+        </NCheckbox>
+        <NCheckbox v-model="telemetry" n="green6">
+          <span op50>Send anonymous statistics, help us improving DevTools</span>
+        </NCheckbox>
+      </div>
     </div>
   </NPanelGrids>
 </template>
diff --git a/packages/devtools/client/pages/settings.vue b/packages/devtools/client/pages/settings.vue
index 99d41972a..4d00640ce 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/client/pages/settings.vue
+++ b/packages/devtools/client/pages/settings.vue
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ definePageMeta({
 
 const {
   interactionCloseOnOutsideClick,
-  // showExperimentalFeatures,
+  showPanel,
   showHelpButtons,
   scale,
   hiddenTabs,
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ watchEffect(() => {
             <NSwitch
               flex="~ row-reverse" py1 pl2 pr1 n-lime
               :model-value="!hiddenTabCategories.includes(name)"
-              @update:model-value="v => toggleTabCategory(name, v)"
+              @update:model-value="(v: boolean) => toggleTabCategory(name, v)"
             >
               <div flex="~ gap-2" flex-auto items-center justify-start>
                 <span capitalize op75>{{ name }}</span>
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ watchEffect(() => {
               <NSwitch
                 flex="~ row-reverse" py1 pl2 pr1 n-primary
                 :model-value="!hiddenTabs.includes(tab.name)"
-                @update:model-value="v => toggleTab(tab.name, v)"
+                @update:model-value="(v: boolean) => toggleTab(tab.name, v)"
               >
                 <div flex="~ gap-2" flex-auto items-center justify-start pr-4 :class="hiddenTabs.includes(tab.name) ? 'op25' : ''">
                   <TabIcon text-xl :icon="tab.icon" :title="tab.title" />
@@ -197,10 +197,14 @@ watchEffect(() => {
             <span>Show help buttons</span>
           </NCheckbox>
 
+          <NCheckbox v-model="showPanel" n-primary>
+            <span>Always show the floating panel</span>
+          </NCheckbox>
+
           <div mx--2 my1 h-1px border="b base" op75 />
 
           <p>Minimize floating panel on inactive</p>
-          <NSelect v-model.number="minimizePanelInactive" n="primary">
+          <NSelect v-model.number="minimizePanelInactive" n-primary>
             <option v-for="i of MinimizeInactiveOptions" :key="i[0]" :value="i[1]">
               {{ i[0] }}
             </option>
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/constant.ts b/packages/devtools/src/constant.ts
index c2e361da9..08ca31b49 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/src/constant.ts
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/constant.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ export const defaultTabOptions: NuxtDevToolsOptions = {
     interactionCloseOnOutsideClick: false,
     showExperimentalFeatures: false,
     showHelpButtons: true,
+    showPanel: null,
     scale: 1,
     minimizePanelInactive: 5000,
     hiddenTabs: [],
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/module-main.ts b/packages/devtools/src/module-main.ts
index 794e81f66..aed0bf9a6 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/src/module-main.ts
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/module-main.ts
@@ -2,17 +2,18 @@ import { existsSync } from 'node:fs'
 import os from 'node:os'
 import { join } from 'pathe'
 import type { Nuxt } from 'nuxt/schema'
-import { addPlugin, addVitePlugin, logger } from '@nuxt/kit'
+import { addPlugin, addTemplate, addVitePlugin, logger } from '@nuxt/kit'
 import type { ViteDevServer } from 'vite'
 import { searchForWorkspaceRoot } from 'vite'
 import sirv from 'sirv'
 import { colors } from 'consola/utils'
 import { version } from '../package.json'
-import type { ModuleOptions } from './types'
+import type { ModuleOptions, NuxtDevToolsOptions } from './types'
 import { setupRPC } from './server-rpc'
 import { clientDir, isGlobalInstall, packageDir, runtimeDir } from './dirs'
-import { ROUTE_ANALYZE, ROUTE_AUTH, ROUTE_AUTH_VERIFY, ROUTE_CLIENT } from './constant'
+import { ROUTE_ANALYZE, ROUTE_AUTH, ROUTE_AUTH_VERIFY, ROUTE_CLIENT, defaultTabOptions } from './constant'
 import { getDevAuthToken } from './dev-auth'
+import { readLocalOptions } from './utils/local-options'
 
 export async function enableModule(options: ModuleOptions, nuxt: Nuxt) {
   // Disable in test mode
@@ -30,8 +31,14 @@ export async function enableModule(options: ModuleOptions, nuxt: Nuxt) {
     return
   }
 
+  // Determine if user aware devtools, by checking the presentation in the config
+  const enabledExplicitly = (nuxt.options.devtools === true)
+    || (nuxt.options.devtools && nuxt.options.devtools.enabled)
+    || !!nuxt.options.modules.find(m => m === '@nuxt/devtools' || m === '@nuxt/devtools-edge')
+
   await nuxt.callHook('devtools:before')
 
+  // Make unimport exposing more information, like the usage of each auto imported function
   nuxt.options.imports.collectMeta = true
 
   addPlugin({
@@ -44,6 +51,25 @@ export async function enableModule(options: ModuleOptions, nuxt: Nuxt) {
     mode: 'server',
   })
 
+  // Mainly for the injected runtime plugin to access the settings
+  // Usage `import settings from '#build/devtools/settings'`
+  addTemplate({
+    filename: 'devtools/settings.mjs',
+    async getContents() {
+      const uiOptions = await readLocalOptions<NuxtDevToolsOptions['ui']>(
+        {
+          ...defaultTabOptions.ui,
+          // When not enabled explicitly, we hide the panel by default
+          showPanel: enabledExplicitly ? true : null,
+        },
+        { root: nuxt.options.rootDir },
+      )
+      return `export default ${JSON.stringify({
+        ui: uiOptions,
+      })}`
+    },
+  })
+
   // Inject inline script
   nuxt.hook('nitro:config', (config) => {
     config.externals = config.externals || {}
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/runtime/plugins/view/Main.vue b/packages/devtools/src/runtime/plugins/view/Main.vue
index a527d5731..c812ac8ba 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/src/runtime/plugins/view/Main.vue
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/runtime/plugins/view/Main.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import type { CSSProperties } from 'vue'
 import { computed, onMounted, reactive, ref, watchEffect } from 'vue'
+import type { CSSProperties } from 'vue'
 import type { NuxtDevtoolsHostClient } from '../../../types'
+import { settings } from '../../settings'
 import { state } from './state'
 import { millisecondToHumanreadable, useEventListener, useScreenSafeArea } from './utils'
 import FrameBox from './FrameBox.vue'
@@ -20,6 +21,12 @@ const panelMargins = reactive({
 const safeArea = useScreenSafeArea()
 
 const isSafari = navigator.userAgent.includes('Safari') && !navigator.userAgent.includes('Chrome')
+let isInit = true
+
+watchEffect(() => {
+  if (state.value.open)
+    isInit = false
+})
 
 watchEffect(() => {
   panelMargins.left = safeArea.left.value + 10
@@ -167,6 +174,17 @@ function bringUp() {
 }
 
 const isHidden = computed(() => {
+  if (state.value.open)
+    return false
+  if (settings.ui.showPanel === true)
+    return false
+  if (settings.ui.showPanel === false)
+    return true
+  // If not explicitly set, hide the panel on first load
+  return isInit
+})
+
+const isMinimized = computed(() => {
   if (state.value.minimizePanelInactive < 0)
     return false
   if (state.value.minimizePanelInactive === 0)
@@ -180,18 +198,25 @@ const isHidden = computed(() => {
     && state.value.minimizePanelInactive
 })
 
-const anchorStyle = computed(() => ({
-  left: `${anchorPos.value.left}px`,
-  top: `${anchorPos.value.top}px`,
-}))
+const anchorStyle = computed(() => {
+  return {
+    left: `${anchorPos.value.left}px`,
+    top: `${anchorPos.value.top}px`,
+    pointerEvents: isHidden.value ? 'none' : 'auto',
+  } as const
+})
 
 const panelStyle = computed(() => {
   const style: any = {
     transform: isVertical.value
-      ? `translate(${isHidden.value ? `calc(-50% ${state.value.position === 'right' ? '+' : '-'} 15px)` : '-50%'}, -50%) rotate(90deg)`
-      : `translate(-50%, ${isHidden.value ? `calc(-50% ${state.value.position === 'top' ? '-' : '+'} 15px)` : '-50%'})`,
+      ? `translate(${isMinimized.value ? `calc(-50% ${state.value.position === 'right' ? '+' : '-'} 15px)` : '-50%'}, -50%) rotate(90deg)`
+      : `translate(-50%, ${isMinimized.value ? `calc(-50% ${state.value.position === 'top' ? '-' : '+'} 15px)` : '-50%'})`,
   }
   if (isHidden.value) {
+    style.opacity = 0
+    style.pointerEvents = 'none'
+  }
+  if (isMinimized.value) {
     switch (state.value.position) {
       case 'top':
       case 'right':
@@ -313,11 +338,15 @@ onMounted(() => {
     :style="[anchorStyle, vars]"
     :class="{
       'nuxt-devtools-vertical': isVertical,
-      'nuxt-devtools-hide': isHidden,
+      'nuxt-devtools-hide': isMinimized,
     }"
     @mousemove="bringUp"
   >
-    <div v-if="!isSafari" class="nuxt-devtools-glowing" :style="isDragging ? 'opacity: 0.6 !important' : ''" />
+    <div
+      v-if="!isSafari"
+      class="nuxt-devtools-glowing"
+      :style="isDragging ? 'opacity: 0.6 !important' : ''"
+    />
     <div
       ref="panelEl"
       class="nuxt-devtools-panel"
@@ -460,7 +489,7 @@ onMounted(() => {
   user-select: none;
   touch-action: none;
   max-width: 150px;
-  transition: max-width 0.6s ease, padding 0.5s ease, transform 0.4s ease, all 0.6s ease;
+  transition: all 0.6s ease, max-width 0.6s ease, padding 0.5s ease, transform 0.4s ease, opacity 0.2s ease;
 }
 
 #nuxt-devtools-anchor.nuxt-devtools-hide .nuxt-devtools-panel {
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/runtime/settings.ts b/packages/devtools/src/runtime/settings.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e86e1d638
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/runtime/settings.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import type { NuxtDevToolsOptions } from '../types'
+
+// @ts-expect-error virtual module
+import _settings from '#build/devtools/settings'
+
+export const settings = _settings as {
+  ui: NuxtDevToolsOptions['ui']
+}
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/server-rpc/options.ts b/packages/devtools/src/server-rpc/options.ts
index 3990de978..7deffbb2a 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/src/server-rpc/options.ts
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/server-rpc/options.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { NuxtDevToolsOptions, NuxtDevtoolsServerContext, ServerFunctions } from '../types'
-import { readOptions, writeOptions } from '../utils/options'
+import { readLocalOptions, writeLocalOptions } from '../utils/local-options'
 import { defaultTabOptions } from '../constant'
 
 export function setupOptionsRPC({ nuxt }: NuxtDevtoolsServerContext) {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export function setupOptionsRPC({ nuxt }: NuxtDevtoolsServerContext) {
   }
 
   async function read<T extends keyof NuxtDevToolsOptions>(tab: T) {
-    options![tab] = await readOptions<NuxtDevToolsOptions[T]>(defaultTabOptions[tab], {
+    options![tab] = await readLocalOptions<NuxtDevToolsOptions[T]>(defaultTabOptions[tab], {
       root: nuxt.options.rootDir,
       key: tab !== 'ui' && tab,
     })
@@ -26,9 +26,17 @@ export function setupOptionsRPC({ nuxt }: NuxtDevtoolsServerContext) {
     async updateOptions(tab, _settings) {
       const settings = await getOptions(tab)
       Object.assign(settings, _settings)
-      await writeOptions({ ...settings }, {
-        root: nuxt.options.rootDir,
-        key: tab !== 'ui' && tab,
+      await writeLocalOptions(
+        { ...settings },
+        {
+          root: nuxt.options.rootDir,
+          key: tab !== 'ui' && tab,
+        },
+      )
+      nuxt.callHook('builder:generateApp', {
+        filter(template) {
+          return template.filename.includes('devtools/settings.mjs')
+        },
       })
     },
     getOptions,
diff --git a/packages/devtools/src/utils/options.ts b/packages/devtools/src/utils/local-options.ts
similarity index 55%
rename from packages/devtools/src/utils/options.ts
rename to packages/devtools/src/utils/local-options.ts
index 168c70f5c..a66f2a9c0 100644
--- a/packages/devtools/src/utils/options.ts
+++ b/packages/devtools/src/utils/local-options.ts
@@ -1,21 +1,17 @@
 import { homedir } from 'node:os'
 import { existsSync } from 'node:fs'
 import fs from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { dirname } from 'node:path'
 import { join } from 'pathe'
 import { hash } from 'ohash'
 
 interface Options {
   root: string
-  key: string | boolean
+  key?: string | boolean
 }
 
-export async function readOptions<T>(defaults: T, options: Options): Promise<T> {
-  let hashedKey
-  if (options.key)
-    hashedKey = hash(`${options.root}:${options.key}`)
-  else
-    hashedKey = hash(options.root)
-  const filePath = join(homedir(), '.nuxt/devtools', `${hashedKey}.json`)
+export async function readLocalOptions<T>(defaults: T, options: Options): Promise<T> {
+  const { filePath } = getOptionsFilepath(options)
 
   if (existsSync(filePath)) {
     const options = {
@@ -29,18 +25,29 @@ export async function readOptions<T>(defaults: T, options: Options): Promise<T>
   }
 }
 
-export async function writeOptions<T>(settings: T, options: Options) {
-  const dir = join(homedir(), '.nuxt/devtools')
-  if (!existsSync(dir))
-    await fs.mkdir(dir, { recursive: true })
-
+function getOptionsFilepath(options: Options) {
   let hashedKey
   if (options.key)
     hashedKey = hash(`${options.root}:${options.key}`)
   else
     hashedKey = hash(options.root)
-  const filePath = join(dir, `${hashedKey}.json`)
+  const filePath = join(homedir(), '.nuxt/devtools', `${hashedKey}.json`)
+  return {
+    filePath,
+    hashedKey,
+  }
+}
+
+export async function clearLocalOptions(options: Options) {
+  const { filePath } = getOptionsFilepath(options)
+  if (existsSync(filePath))
+    await fs.unlink(filePath)
+}
+
+export async function writeLocalOptions<T>(settings: T, options: Options) {
+  const { filePath, hashedKey } = getOptionsFilepath(options)
 
+  await fs.mkdir(dirname(filePath), { recursive: true })
   await fs.writeFile(
     filePath,
     JSON.stringify(