diff --git a/py/services/settings_manager.py b/py/services/settings_manager.py
index b6cb40f1..86b29922 100644
--- a/py/services/settings_manager.py
+++ b/py/services/settings_manager.py
@@ -152,6 +152,9 @@ class SettingsManager:
         self._check_environment_variables()
         self._collect_configuration_warnings()
 
+        if os.environ.get("LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE", "0") == "1":
+            self.settings.setdefault("use_portable_settings", True)
+
         if self._needs_initial_save:
             self._save_settings()
             self._needs_initial_save = False
diff --git a/py/utils/settings_paths.py b/py/utils/settings_paths.py
index d47f0801..3ddfc01a 100644
--- a/py/utils/settings_paths.py
+++ b/py/utils/settings_paths.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from platformdirs import user_config_dir
 
 
 APP_NAME = "ComfyUI-LoRA-Manager"
+_LM_PORTABLE_ENV = "LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE"
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -100,7 +101,11 @@ def ensure_settings_file(logger: Optional[logging.Logger] = None) -> str:
 
 
 def _should_use_portable_settings(path: str, logger: logging.Logger) -> bool:
-    """Return ``True`` when the repository settings file enables portable mode."""
+    """Return ``True`` when the env var forces it or the settings file enables it."""
+
+    if os.environ.get(_LM_PORTABLE_ENV, "0") == "1":
+        logger.debug("Portable mode enabled via %s", _LM_PORTABLE_ENV)
+        return True
 
     if not os.path.exists(path):
         return False
diff --git a/tests/utils/test_settings_paths.py b/tests/utils/test_settings_paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a82c93de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/utils/test_settings_paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+"""Tests for settings path resolution."""
+
+import json
+import logging
+import os
+
+import pytest
+
+from py.utils.settings_paths import _should_use_portable_settings
+
+
+class TestShouldUsePortableSettings:
+    """Tests for _should_use_portable_settings()."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "env_value, settings_flag, expected",
+        [
+            ("1", False, True),   # env = 1 overrides settings.json false
+            ("1", True, True),    # env = 1 matches settings.json true
+            ("0", False, False),  # env = 0 → rely on settings.json
+            ("0", True, True),    # env = 0 → rely on settings.json
+            ("", False, False),   # unset → rely on settings.json
+            ("", True, True),     # unset → rely on settings.json
+        ],
+    )
+    def test_env_var_overrides_settings(self, tmp_path, env_value, settings_flag, expected):
+        """The LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE env var takes precedence over settings.json."""
+        settings_file = tmp_path / "settings.json"
+        settings_file.write_text(
+            json.dumps({"use_portable_settings": settings_flag})
+        )
+
+        with pytest.MonkeyPatch.context() as mp:
+            if env_value:
+                mp.setenv("LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE", env_value)
+            else:
+                mp.delenv("LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE", raising=False)
+
+            result = _should_use_portable_settings(str(settings_file), logging.getLogger())
+            assert result == expected
+
+    def test_missing_file_without_env(self, tmp_path):
+        """Without env var, missing settings file returns False."""
+        missing = tmp_path / "nonexistent.json"
+
+        result = _should_use_portable_settings(str(missing), logging.getLogger())
+        assert result is False
+
+    def test_missing_file_with_env(self, tmp_path):
+        """With env var, even a missing settings file returns True."""
+        missing = tmp_path / "nonexistent.json"
+
+        with pytest.MonkeyPatch.context() as mp:
+            mp.setenv("LORA_MANAGER_PORTABLE", "1")
+            result = _should_use_portable_settings(str(missing), logging.getLogger())
+            assert result is True