diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
index 0af8835d1..46402f446 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/es.tsv
@@ -3610,3 +3610,5 @@
 	Shows the version, community links and credits in a FilmCraft window.	Muestra la versión, los enlaces de la comunidad y los créditos en una ventana de FilmCraft.
 	Couldn't open your web browser	No se pudo abrir el navegador web
 	Open this address in your browser yourself:	Abre esta dirección tú mismo en el navegador:
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	Restablecer zoom de la interfaz
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
index 1075b0c15..7face7863 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/fr.tsv
@@ -3577,3 +3577,5 @@
 	Export the labels to a preset file…	Exporter les étiquettes dans un fichier de paramètre prédéfini…
 	Show the presets folder	Afficher le dossier des paramètres prédéfinis
 	Delete this preset	Supprimer ce paramètre prédéfini
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	Réinitialiser le zoom de l'interface
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
index 508a6e9d4..627877604 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/id.tsv
@@ -3575,3 +3575,5 @@
 	Appearance Settings…	Pengaturan Tampilan…
 	Add to favorites	Tambahkan ke favorit
 	Remove from favorites	Hapus dari favorit
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	Atur Ulang Zoom Antarmuka
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
index 22d47ccbd..63794ddc6 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/it.tsv
@@ -3601,3 +3601,5 @@
 	Shows the version, community links and credits in a FilmCraft window.	Mostra la versione, i link della community e i riconoscimenti in una finestra di FilmCraft.
 	Couldn't open your web browser	Impossibile aprire il browser web
 	Open this address in your browser yourself:	Apri tu questo indirizzo nel browser:
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	Reimposta zoom dell'interfaccia
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
index b6a7fb8a2..d57a42f29 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ja.tsv
@@ -3609,3 +3609,5 @@
 	Shows the version, community links and credits in a FilmCraft window.	バージョン、コミュニティへのリンク、クレジットを FilmCraft のウィンドウに表示します。
 	Couldn't open your web browser	ウェブブラウザーを開けませんでした
 	Open this address in your browser yourself:	このアドレスをご自身でブラウザーで開いてください：
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	インターフェイスのズームをリセット
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
index 20341b9a6..d1fa9b401 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/ko.tsv
@@ -3596,3 +3596,5 @@
 	Shows the version, community links and credits in a FilmCraft window.	FilmCraft 창에 버전, 커뮤니티 링크, 제작진을 보여 줍니다.
 	Couldn't open your web browser	웹 브라우저를 열 수 없습니다
 	Open this address in your browser yourself:	이 주소를 브라우저에서 직접 여세요:
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	인터페이스 확대/축소 재설정
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
index aeb0e0691..66f2e59a3 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/pt-br.tsv
@@ -3578,3 +3578,5 @@
 
 # The native macOS application menu (Settings…).
 	Settings	Preferências
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	Redefinir zoom da interface
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-cn.tsv b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-cn.tsv
index 066279eef..cc20dd968 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-cn.tsv
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/i18n/zh-cn.tsv
@@ -3585,3 +3585,5 @@
 	Shows the version, community links and credits in a FilmCraft window.	在 FilmCraft 窗口中显示版本、社区链接和致谢。
 	Couldn't open your web browser	无法打开网页浏览器
 	Open this address in your browser yourself:	请自行在浏览器中打开此地址：
+# View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom (#2253).
+	Reset Interface Zoom	重置界面缩放
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
index e3a644ff8..576f912da 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/lib.rs
@@ -685,6 +685,16 @@ impl FilmcraftApp {
         }
     }
 
+    /// View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom: the scale Settings ▸ Appearance ▸ UI Scale asks for (the
+    /// system's with Auto), undoing any session zoom (#2253).
+    /// Returns the zoom factor set (egui reports it from the next pass on).
+    pub(crate) fn reset_ui_zoom(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) -> f32 {
+        let native = ctx.native_pixels_per_point().filter(|v| v.is_finite() && *v > 0.0).unwrap_or(1.0);
+        let zoom = self.session.prefs.appearance.ui_scale_factor().map_or(1.0, |scale| scale / native);
+        ctx.set_zoom_factor(zoom);
+        zoom
+    }
+
     /// Make the UI follow the settings after they change (theme, tooltips, frame cache budget,
     /// play after rendering, audio device).
     pub fn apply_prefs(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context) {
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
index 48b4b82c6..1d760d0c0 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/menus.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ pub const UI_COMMANDS: &[UiCommand] = &[
     uic!("view.zoomIn", "Zoom In", ["View"], Some("=")),
     uic!("view.zoomOut", "Zoom Out", ["View"], Some("-")),
     uic!("view.zoomToSequence", "Zoom to Sequence", ["View"], Some("\\")),
+    uic!("view.resetInterfaceZoom", "Reset Interface Zoom", ["View"], None),
     uic!("view.playbackRes.full", "Full", ["View", "Playback Resolution"], None),
     uic!("view.playbackRes.half", "1/2", ["View", "Playback Resolution"], None),
     uic!("view.playbackRes.quarter", "1/4", ["View", "Playback Resolution"], None),
@@ -417,6 +418,12 @@ pub fn invoke(app: &mut FilmcraftApp, ctx: &egui::Context, id: &str, mut params:
             app.ui.timeline.fit_pending = true;
             return Ok(Value::Null);
         }
+        // the whole interface back to Settings ▸ Appearance ▸ UI Scale, after Ctrl+Plus or a mouse
+        // mapped to page zoom scaled it (#2253)
+        "view.resetInterfaceZoom" => {
+            let zoom = app.reset_ui_zoom(ctx);
+            return Ok(json!({"zoom": zoom}));
+        }
         "mode.import" => {
             app.ui.mode = Mode::Import;
             return Ok(Value::Null);
@@ -842,6 +849,16 @@ pub fn bindings(app: &FilmcraftApp) -> Vec<KeyBinding> {
     let shifted: Vec<KeyBinding> =
         v.iter().filter(|b| b.0.shift).filter_map(|(m, k, id, p)| shifted_key(*k).map(|k2| (*m, k2, id.clone(), p.clone()))).collect();
     v.extend(shifted);
+    // `+` is the `=` key with Shift on US layouts and its own key on others and the keypad: a chord
+    // on `=` takes it too, unless something is bound to `+` itself. Otherwise Ctrl+Plus fell
+    // through to egui's interface zoom while Ctrl+- and Ctrl+0 were taken by FilmCraft
+    // shortcuts, so the interface grew and could not shrink back (#2253).
+    let plus: Vec<KeyBinding> = v
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|(m, k, _, p)| *k == egui::Key::Equals && !v.iter().any(|(m2, k2, _, p2)| *k2 == egui::Key::Plus && m2 == m && p2 == p))
+        .map(|(m, _, id, p)| (*m, egui::Key::Plus, id.clone(), p.clone()))
+        .collect();
+    v.extend(plus);
     v.sort_by_key(|(m, ..)| std::cmp::Reverse(specificity(*m)));
     v
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/tests/interface_zoom_ui.rs b/crates/ui-egui/tests/interface_zoom_ui.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2908a0017
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/tests/interface_zoom_ui.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+//! Headless UI tests of the interface zoom (#2253).
+
+use std::sync::mpsc::{Sender, channel};
+
+use egui_kittest::Harness;
+use filmcraft_engine::Session;
+use filmcraft_ui_egui::FilmcraftApp;
+use filmcraft_ui_egui::control::ControlRequest;
+use serde_json::{Value, json};
+
+struct Driver {
+    harness: Harness<'static, FilmcraftApp>,
+    tx: Sender<ControlRequest>,
+}
+
+impl Driver {
+    fn demo() -> Self {
+        let mut session = Session::default();
+        session.execute("file.openDemoProject", json!({})).expect("demo project");
+        let (tx, rx) = channel();
+        let app = FilmcraftApp::new(session).with_control(rx);
+        let harness = Harness::builder().with_size(egui::vec2(1600.0, 980.0)).with_step_dt(1.0 / 60.0).with_max_steps(10_000).build_eframe(move |_cc| app);
+        let mut d = Driver { harness, tx };
+        d.frames(4);
+        d
+    }
+
+    fn frames(&mut self, n: usize) {
+        for _ in 0..n {
+            let ctx = self.harness.ctx.clone();
+            let mut raw = std::mem::take(self.harness.input_mut());
+            eframe::App::raw_input_hook(self.harness.state_mut(), &ctx, &mut raw);
+            *self.harness.input_mut() = raw;
+            self.harness.step();
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn ok(&mut self, method: &str, params: Value) -> Value {
+        let (req, reply) = ControlRequest::new(method, params.clone());
+        self.tx.send(req).unwrap();
+        for _ in 0..600 {
+            self.frames(1);
+            if let Ok(v) = reply.try_recv() {
+                assert_eq!(v["ok"], json!(true), "{method} {params} failed: {v}");
+                return v["result"].clone();
+            }
+        }
+        panic!("no reply to {method} {params}");
+    }
+
+    fn click(&mut self, id: &str) {
+        self.ok("ui.click", json!({"id": id}));
+        self.frames(2);
+    }
+
+    fn app(&mut self) -> &mut FilmcraftApp {
+        self.harness.state_mut()
+    }
+
+    /// One key press with `modifiers`, as the window reports it.
+    fn press(&mut self, key: egui::Key, modifiers: egui::Modifiers) {
+        let events = &mut self.harness.input_mut().events;
+        events.push(egui::Event::ModifiersChanged(modifiers));
+        for pressed in [true, false] {
+            events.push(egui::Event::Key { key, physical_key: None, pressed, repeat: false, modifiers });
+        }
+        events.push(egui::Event::ModifiersChanged(egui::Modifiers::NONE));
+        self.frames(3);
+    }
+}
+
+/// #2253: with the Timeline focused, Ctrl+= and Ctrl+- are its track-height keys, but Ctrl+Plus
+/// (the `+` key, or Shift+=) fell through to egui and scaled the whole interface, which the taken
+/// Ctrl+- and Ctrl+0 could not undo. `+` now goes where `=` goes, and View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom
+/// gives the configured scale back.
+#[test]
+fn ctrl_plus_does_what_ctrl_equals_does_and_the_interface_zoom_can_be_reset() {
+    let mut d = Driver::demo();
+    let clip = d.app().session.active_sequence().unwrap().video_tracks[0].items[0].id.0;
+    d.click(&format!("timeline.clip.{clip}"));
+    assert_eq!(d.app().ui.focused, filmcraft_ui_egui::dock::PanelKind::Timeline);
+    let zoom = d.harness.ctx.zoom_factor();
+    let height = d.app().ui.timeline.video_track_h;
+    d.press(egui::Key::Plus, egui::Modifiers::COMMAND);
+    assert_eq!(d.harness.ctx.zoom_factor(), zoom, "the interface keeps its scale");
+    assert!(d.app().ui.timeline.video_track_h > height, "Ctrl+Plus makes the video tracks taller, as Ctrl+= does");
+
+    // however it got scaled, View ▸ Reset Interface Zoom brings it back
+    d.harness.ctx.set_zoom_factor(1.75);
+    d.frames(2);
+    assert_eq!(d.harness.ctx.zoom_factor(), 1.75);
+    let r = d.ok("ui.menu.invoke", json!({"id": "view.resetInterfaceZoom"}));
+    assert_eq!(r["zoom"], json!(1.0), "the reply says the zoom it set: {r}");
+    d.frames(2);
+    assert_eq!(d.harness.ctx.zoom_factor(), 1.0);
+}