diff --git a/docs/README.md b/docs/README.md
index bbefb68..4902f6e 100644
--- a/docs/README.md
+++ b/docs/README.md
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@ cd ~/agentic-os
 ```
 
 **URLs:**
-- Dashboard: `http://127.0.0.1:8081`
+- Dashboard: `http://127.0.0.1:8080`
 - Web Terminal: `http://127.0.0.1:8082` (WebSocket)
-- API Base: `http://127.0.0.1:8081/api/`
+- API Base: `http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/`
 
 ---
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ Via the dashboard: **Agent Health** → **+ Add Agent**
 
 Or via API:
 ```bash
-curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8081/api/agents/register \
+curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/agents/register \
   -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
   -d '{
     "name": "my-llm",
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ Via the dashboard: **Agent Health** → click **Remove** on any custom agent.
 
 Or via API:
 ```bash
-curl -X DELETE http://127.0.0.1:8081/api/agents/my-llm
+curl -X DELETE http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/agents/my-llm
 ```
 
 Built-in agents cannot be removed.
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ cp -r skills/_template skills/my-skill
 
 ```python
 # In server.py, add to BUILTIN_AGENTS dict, or use the API:
-curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8081/api/agents/register \
+curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8080/api/agents/register \
   -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
   -d '{"name":"my-agent","binary":"my-binary","type":"cli"}'
 ```
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ curl -X POST http://127.0.0.1:8081/api/agents/register \
 ### Server Lifecycle
 
 ```bash
-./start.sh          # Start (port 8081 + terminal on 8082)
+./start.sh          # Start (dashboard port from data/settings.json, default 8080)
 ./start.sh --open   # Start + open browser
 ./start.sh --stop   # Stop
 ./start.sh --status # Check if running
diff --git a/scheduler/scheduler.py b/scheduler/scheduler.py
index d7ca2b5..da68582 100644
--- a/scheduler/scheduler.py
+++ b/scheduler/scheduler.py
@@ -31,7 +31,14 @@ import urllib.error
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.resolve()
 JOBS_DIR = BASE_DIR / "jobs"
 # Server URL — same host, main API port. Override with AGENTIC_OS_URL env.
-SERVER_URL = "http://127.0.0.1:8080"
+# Server URL — read the canonical port from settings.json so there is a
+# single source of truth (launchers + server + scheduler all agree).
+try:
+    _SET = json.loads(Path(__file__).parent.parent.joinpath("data", "settings.json").read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    _PORT = int(_SET.get("dashboard", {}).get("port", 8080))
+except Exception:
+    _PORT = 8080
+SERVER_URL = f"http://127.0.0.1:{_PORT}"
 RUN_TIMEOUT = 300  # seconds per skill run
 
 
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 6f36946..f606b3f 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -2810,14 +2810,24 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     import uvicorn
 
+    # Single source of truth: the dashboard port lives in data/settings.json.
+    # Read it here so `--port` defaults to it (launchers, scheduler, docs all agree).
+    _settings_port = 8080
+    try:
+        _sf = BASE_DIR / "data" / "settings.json"
+        if _sf.exists():
+            _settings_port = int(json.loads(_sf.read_text(encoding="utf-8")).get("dashboard", {}).get("port", 8080))
+    except Exception:
+        _settings_port = 8080
+
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
-    parser.add_argument("--port", type=int, default=8081)
+    parser.add_argument("--port", type=int, default=_settings_port)
     parser.add_argument("--host", type=str, default="0.0.0.0")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     # ── Double-launch guard ───────────────────────────────────────────
     # Refuse to start if the API port is already bound by another process.
-    # Without this, two server.py instances collide on 8081 (and 8082),
+    # Without this, two server.py instances collide on the API port (default 8080),
     # producing phantom "register doesn't persist" bugs and bind crashes.
     probe = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
     try:
diff --git a/start-agentic-os.sh b/start-agentic-os.sh
index 6274080..96f15bb 100755
--- a/start-agentic-os.sh
+++ b/start-agentic-os.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ DIR="/home/austin/agentic-os"
 LOG="/tmp/agentic-os.log"
 PIDFILE="$DIR/.agentic-os.pid"
 HOST="0.0.0.0"
-PORT="8080"
+PORT="$(python3 -c "import json;print(json.load(open('data/settings.json')).get('dashboard',{}).get('port',8080))" 2>/dev/null || echo 8080)"
 
 # Already serving? Then do nothing (idempotent).
 if ss -ltn 2>/dev/null | grep -q ":$PORT "; then
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index e296845..1322646 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
-PORT="${PORT:-8081}"
+PORT="${PORT:-$(python3 -c "import json;print(json.load(open('data/settings.json')).get('dashboard',{}).get('port',8080))" 2>/dev/null || echo 8080)}"
 PID_FILE=".agentic-os.pid"
 DASHBOARD_URL="http://127.0.0.1:${PORT}"