diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/tag/TagRuleEditor.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/tag/TagRuleEditor.svelte
index 68aeee1..3d4633d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/tag/TagRuleEditor.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/tag/TagRuleEditor.svelte
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 			const rule = await api.post<TagRule>(`/tags/${tagId}/rules`, {
 				then_tag_id: thenTagId,
 				is_active: true,
-				apply_to_existing: false,
+				apply_to_existing: $appSettings.tagRuleApplyToExisting,
 			});
 			onRulesChange([...rules, rule]);
 			search = '';
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
index 28fb2b7..9bedbe0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/settings/+page.svelte
@@ -262,8 +262,8 @@
 
 		<div class="toggle-row">
 			<div>
-				<span class="toggle-label">Apply activated tag rules to existing files</span>
-				<p class="hint-text">When a tag rule is activated, automatically add the implied tag to all files that already have the source tag.</p>
+				<span class="toggle-label">Apply new tag rules to existing files</span>
+				<p class="hint-text">When a tag rule is created or activated, automatically add the implied tag to all files that already have the source tag.</p>
 			</div>
 			<button
 				class="toggle"