diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/settings.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/settings.rs
index f4dd89bfc..562a90132 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/settings.rs
@@ -117,15 +117,20 @@ fn page_ui(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, page: &Page, cur: &Value
                             ui.add_sized(vec2(label_w, 18.0), egui::Label::new(format!("{}:", tr(label))).truncate());
                             let r = match kind {
                                 Kind::Int(lo, hi, unit) => {
-                                    let mut x = v.as_i64().unwrap_or(0);
-                                    // A typed number applies once entered: typing 85 into UI Scale
-                                    // doesn't resize the interface to 75 % at its first digit.
+                                    // A dragged value applies on release, and a typed one once
+                                    // entered: UI Scale doesn't resize the interface under the
+                                    // pointer mid-drag (#2582) or at a typed number's first digit.
+                                    let held = egui::Id::unique(("settings-drag", key));
+                                    let mut x = ui.data(|d| d.get_temp::<i64>(held)).unwrap_or_else(|| v.as_i64().unwrap_or(0));
                                     let drag = egui::DragValue::new(&mut x).range(lo..=hi).speed(0.25).update_while_editing(false);
                                     let r = ui.add(crate::widgets::drag_value(drag));
                                     if !unit.is_empty() {
                                         ui.label(RichText::new(tr(unit)).color(t.text_dim));
                                     }
-                                    if r.changed() {
+                                    if r.dragged() {
+                                        ui.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(held, x));
+                                    } else if r.changed() || r.drag_stopped() {
+                                        ui.data_mut(|d| d.remove::<i64>(held));
                                         acts.push(Act::Set(key.into(), json!(x)));
                                     }
                                     r
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_panels.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_panels.rs
index db9ef7373..6d06c6bf7 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_panels.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/it/ui_panels.rs
@@ -664,3 +664,33 @@ fn transition_presets_apply_from_effects_and_presets() {
     assert_eq!(fx.name, "Radial Wipe");
     assert_eq!(fx.prop("completion").unwrap().keys.len(), 2);
 }
+
+/// #2582: dragging Settings' UI Scale doesn't resize the interface under the pointer; the value
+/// applies once the button is released.
+#[test]
+fn ui_scale_applies_when_the_drag_ends() {
+    let mut h = harness();
+    open_settings(&mut h);
+    let e = h.state().auto.find("settings.appearance.uiScale").expect("the UI Scale field");
+    let from = pos2(e.rect[0] + e.rect[2] / 2.0, e.rect[1] + e.rect[3] / 2.0);
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from));
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton { pos: from, button: egui::PointerButton::Primary, pressed: true, modifiers: Default::default() });
+    h.step();
+    for k in 1..=8 {
+        h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerMoved(from + egui::vec2(10.0 * k as f32, 0.0)));
+        h.step();
+        assert_eq!(scale(&h), (100, 1.0), "nothing applies mid-drag");
+    }
+    h.input_mut().events.push(Event::PointerButton {
+        pos: from + egui::vec2(80.0, 0.0),
+        button: egui::PointerButton::Primary,
+        pressed: false,
+        modifiers: Default::default(),
+    });
+    h.run_steps(4);
+    let (pct, zoom) = scale(&h);
+    assert!(pct > 100 && (zoom - pct as f32 / 100.0).abs() < 1e-6, "applied on release: {pct} {zoom}");
+    click(&mut h, "settings.cancel");
+    h.run_steps(2);
+    assert_eq!(scale(&h), (100, 1.0));
+}