diff --git a/src/components/dms/util.ts b/src/components/dms/util.ts
--- a/src/components/dms/util.ts
+++ b/src/components/dms/util.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,22 @@ return false
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolves the effective `allowGroupInvites` value for a chat declaration.
+ * When unset, group invites follow the general DM preference
+ * (`allowIncoming`), which itself defaults to `following`. This mirrors the
+ * `undefined` fallthrough in canBeAddedToGroup, and is the single source of
+ * truth for both displaying and persisting the setting.
+ */
+export function resolveAllowGroupInvites(
+  chat: {allowIncoming?: string; allowGroupInvites?: string} | undefined,
+): 'all' | 'none' | 'following' {
+  return (chat?.allowGroupInvites ?? chat?.allowIncoming ?? 'following') as
+    | 'all'
+    | 'none'
+    | 'following'
+}
+
 export function localDateString(date: Date) {
   // can't use toISOString because it should be in local time
   const mm = date.getMonth()
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
--- a/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/Settings.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import {AgeRestrictedScreen} from '#/components/ageAssurance/AgeRestrictedScreen'
 import {useAgeAssuranceCopy} from '#/components/ageAssurance/useAgeAssuranceCopy'
 import * as Dialog from '#/components/Dialog'
 import {Divider} from '#/components/Divider'
+import {resolveAllowGroupInvites} from '#/components/dms/util'
 import * as Toggle from '#/components/forms/Toggle'
 import {Bell_Stroke2_Corner0_Rounded as BellIcon} from '#/components/icons/Bell'
 import {Car_Stroke2_Corner2_Rounded as CarIcon} from '#/components/icons/Car'
@@ -199,10 +200,7 @@ </Text>
                 <Toggle.Group
                   label={l`Allow group chat invites from`}
                   type="radio"
-                  values={[
-                    (profile?.associated?.chat
-                      ?.allowGroupInvites as AllowIncoming) ?? 'following',
-                  ]}
+                  values={[resolveAllowGroupInvites(profile?.associated?.chat)]}
                   onChange={onSelectGroupInvitesFrom}>
                   <View>
                     {allowGroupInvitesFromOptions.map(option => (
diff --git a/src/screens/Messages/components/ChatListItem.tsx b/src/screens/Messages/components/ChatListItem.tsx
--- a/src/screens/Messages/components/ChatListItem.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/Messages/components/ChatListItem.tsx
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ <Link
             to={`/messages/${convo.view.id}`}
             // In split view, this list stays mounted alongside the open convo,
             // so push would stack duplicate routes on repeated clicks.
-            action={isWithinSplitView ? 'navigate' : 'push'}
+            action={isWithinLeftPanel ? 'navigate' : 'push'}
             label={title}
             accessibilityHint={accessibilityHint}
             accessibilityActions={
diff --git a/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts b/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
--- a/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
+++ b/src/state/queries/messages/actor-declaration.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {useMutation, useQueryClient} from '@tanstack/react-query'
 
 import {logger} from '#/logger'
 import {useAgent, useSession} from '#/state/session'
+import {resolveAllowGroupInvites} from '#/components/dms/util'
 import {RQKEY as PROFILE_RKEY} from '../profile'
 
 export function useUpdateActorDeclaration({
@@ -34,8 +35,12 @@ const allowIncoming =
         update.allowIncoming ??
         current?.associated?.chat?.allowIncoming ??
         'following'
-      const allowGroupInvites =
-        update.allowGroupInvites ?? current?.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites
+      const allowGroupInvites = resolveAllowGroupInvites({
+        allowIncoming,
+        allowGroupInvites:
+          update.allowGroupInvites ??
+          current?.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites,
+      })
       const result = await agent.com.atproto.repo.putRecord({
         repo: currentAccount.did,
         collection: 'chat.bsky.actor.declaration',
@@ -43,7 +48,7 @@ rkey: 'self',
         record: {
           $type: 'chat.bsky.actor.declaration',
           allowIncoming,
-          ...(allowGroupInvites && {allowGroupInvites}),
+          allowGroupInvites,
         },
       })
       return result
@@ -54,14 +59,26 @@ queryClient.setQueryData(
         PROFILE_RKEY(currentAccount?.did),
         (old?: AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileViewDetailed) => {
           if (!old) return old
+          const allowIncoming =
+            update.allowIncoming ??
+            old.associated?.chat?.allowIncoming ??
+            'following'
+          // resolve the same concrete value the server will receive, so
+          // optimistic cache and persisted record stay aligned
+          const allowGroupInvites = resolveAllowGroupInvites({
+            allowIncoming,
+            allowGroupInvites:
+              update.allowGroupInvites ??
+              old.associated?.chat?.allowGroupInvites,
+          })
           return {
             ...old,
             associated: {
               ...old.associated,
               chat: {
-                allowIncoming: 'following',
                 ...old.associated?.chat,
-                ...update,
+                allowIncoming,
+                allowGroupInvites,
               },
             },
           } satisfies AppBskyActorDefs.ProfileViewDetailed