diff --git a/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/src/client/devframe/minimal-next-devframe-hub.ts b/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/src/client/devframe/minimal-next-devframe-hub.ts
index 8387a50..21285b3 100644
--- a/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/src/client/devframe/minimal-next-devframe-hub.ts
+++ b/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/src/client/devframe/minimal-next-devframe-hub.ts
@@ -205,13 +205,14 @@ export async function minimalNextDevframeHub(
   })
 
   // The hub no longer synthesizes built-in docks — a high-level integration
-  // registers the viewer's native views it wants. `~builtin` views default
-  // their category to `~builtin`, so this Settings tab sorts last on its own.
+  // registers the viewer's native views it wants, declaring the `~builtin`
+  // category itself so this Settings tab groups and sorts last.
   context.docks.register({
     type: '~builtin',
     id: '~settings',
     title: 'Settings',
     icon: 'ph:gear-duotone',
+    category: '~builtin',
   })
 
   // Demo devframes alongside the dogfooded built-in plugin packages.
diff --git a/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/tests/minimal-next-devframe-hub.test.ts b/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/tests/minimal-next-devframe-hub.test.ts
index 7d68275..3e5734c 100644
--- a/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/tests/minimal-next-devframe-hub.test.ts
+++ b/examples/minimal-next-devframe-hub/tests/minimal-next-devframe-hub.test.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ describe('minimal-next-devframe-hub (example)', () => {
     const dockIds = docks.map(d => d.id)
     expect(dockIds).toContain('next-demo-tool')
     // The hub synthesizes no built-in docks; the integration registers the
-    // settings tab itself, and `~builtin` views default to the `~builtin` category.
+    // settings tab itself, declaring the `~builtin` category explicitly.
     expect(dockIds).toContain('~settings')
     expect(docks.find(d => d.id === '~settings')?.category).toBe('~builtin')
     // The dogfooded built-in plugin packages mount their own docks.
diff --git a/packages/hub/src/node/__tests__/host-docks.test.ts b/packages/hub/src/node/__tests__/host-docks.test.ts
index da86135..b52eee7 100644
--- a/packages/hub/src/node/__tests__/host-docks.test.ts
+++ b/packages/hub/src/node/__tests__/host-docks.test.ts
@@ -190,13 +190,13 @@ describe('devframeDockHost grouping', () => {
   })
 })
 
-describe('devframeDockHost ~builtin category default', () => {
+describe('devframeDockHost ~builtin category', () => {
   it('returns no docks until an integration registers one', () => {
     const host = new DevframeDocksHost(createContext())
     expect(host.values()).toEqual([])
   })
 
-  it('defaults a ~builtin view without a category to the ~builtin category', () => {
+  it('preserves a ~builtin view without a category untouched', () => {
     const host = new DevframeDocksHost(createContext())
     host.register({
       type: '~builtin',
@@ -206,7 +206,8 @@ describe('devframeDockHost ~builtin category default', () => {
     })
 
     const entry = host.values()[0]
-    expect(entry).toMatchObject({ id: '~settings', type: '~builtin', category: '~builtin' })
+    expect(entry).toMatchObject({ id: '~settings', type: '~builtin' })
+    expect(entry.category).toBeUndefined()
   })
 
   it('preserves an explicit category on a ~builtin view', () => {
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.d.ts b/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.d.ts
index 0aec95c..fd949f3 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.d.ts
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.d.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ export declare class DevframeDocksHost implements DevframeDocksHost$1 {
     update: (_: Partial<T>) => void;
   };
   update(_: DevframeDockUserEntry): void;
-  private withBuiltinCategory;
   private validateGroupMembership;
   private prepareRemoteRegistration;
 }
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.js b/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.js
index 1de7d77..ce61db3 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.js
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/tsnapi/@devframes/hub/node.snapshot.js
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ export class DevframeDocksHost {
   resolveDevServerOrigin() {}
   register(_, _) {}
   update(_) {}
-  withBuiltinCategory(_) {}
   validateGroupMembership(_) {}
   prepareRemoteRegistration(_) {}
 }