diff --git a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/effective_settings.proto b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/effective_settings.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..187c29b9b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/effective_settings.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package zitadel.settings.v2;
+
+option go_package = "github.com/zitadel/zitadel/pkg/grpc/settings/v2;settings";
+
+import "zitadel/settings/v2/link_settings.proto";
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Enums
+// ============================================================================
+
+enum SettingsType {
+  SETTINGS_TYPE_UNSPECIFIED = 0;
+  SETTINGS_TYPE_LINK_SETTINGS = 1;
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Get
+// ============================================================================
+
+message GetEffectiveSettingsRequest {
+  optional string organization_id = 1;
+  optional string project_id = 2;
+  optional string application_id = 3;
+  repeated SettingsType types = 4;  // empty or omitted = return all
+}
+
+message GetEffectiveSettingsResponse {
+  optional LinkSettings links = 7;
+}
diff --git a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/legal_settings.proto b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/legal_settings.proto
index 288712e33..8ec75922c 100644
--- a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/legal_settings.proto
+++ b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/legal_settings.proto
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import "protoc-gen-openapiv2/options/annotations.proto";
 import "zitadel/settings/v2/settings.proto";
 import "validate/validate.proto";
 
+// Deprecated: use GetLinkSettings instead
 message LegalAndSupportSettings {
   // Link to the Terms of Service. Can be a relative or absolute URL.
   string tos_link = 1 [
diff --git a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/link_settings.proto b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/link_settings.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df4618897
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/link_settings.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package zitadel.settings.v2;
+
+option go_package = "github.com/zitadel/zitadel/pkg/grpc/settings/v2;settings";
+
+import "validate/validate.proto";
+
+import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto";
+import "zitadel/object/v2/object.proto";
+import "zitadel/settings/v2/source.proto";
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Messages
+// ============================================================================
+
+// Ordered list of links displayed in the login footer.
+// The array order determines display order — there is no separate order field.
+// Protobuf `repeated` fields preserve insertion order across all languages.
+message LinkSettings {
+  repeated Link links = 1;
+}
+
+message Link {
+  LinkType type = 1;
+  // Target URL or mailto address for the link.
+  // Must be either a valid absolute URL (e.g., "https://example.com/tos")
+  // or a mailto address (e.g., "mailto:support@example.com").
+  // May contain language placeholders ({{.Lang}}) to support localized destinations.
+  string url = 2 [
+    (validate.rules).string = {
+      pattern: "^(https?://|mailto:).+"
+      min_len: 1;
+    }
+  ];
+  // Translation key for the link text.
+  // Required for CUSTOM links; must be empty for well-known types.
+  //
+  // Well-known types: labels come from the frontend i18n files, not this field.
+  // Custom links: this is a translation key resolved via GetHostedLoginTranslation.
+  // Register display text per language via SetHostedLoginTranslation.
+  string translation_key = 3 [
+    (validate.rules).string = {
+      min_len: 1;
+      ignore_empty: true;
+    }
+  ];
+  LinkTarget target = 4;
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Enums
+// ============================================================================
+
+enum LinkType {
+  LINK_TYPE_UNSPECIFIED = 0;
+  LINK_TYPE_TERMS_OF_SERVICE = 1;
+  LINK_TYPE_PRIVACY_POLICY = 2;
+  LINK_TYPE_HELP = 3;
+  LINK_TYPE_SUPPORT = 4;
+  LINK_TYPE_DOCS = 5;
+  LINK_TYPE_CUSTOM = 6;
+}
+
+enum LinkTarget {
+  LINK_TARGET_UNSPECIFIED = 0;
+  LINK_TARGET_SELF = 1;    // opens in same window
+  LINK_TARGET_BLANK = 2;   // opens in new tab
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Get
+// ============================================================================
+
+// Returns the effective links for the requested scope.
+// Source is tracked for the list as a whole — the entire list
+// is either inherited or overridden, never partially merged.
+
+message GetLinkSettingsRequest {
+  // ctx specifies the context for which the link settings should be returned.
+  // This can be the instance, organization,... according to the hierarchical
+  // model of the settings.
+  // If a lower level of the model is requested but not found, the fallback of
+  // the parent is returned.
+  zitadel.object.v2.RequestContext ctx = 1;
+}
+
+message GetLinkSettingsResponse {
+  LinkSettings settings = 1;
+  Source source = 2;
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Set
+// ============================================================================
+
+message SetLinkSettingsRequest {
+  // ctx specifies the context for which the link settings should be set.
+  // This can be the instance, organization,... according to the hierarchical
+  // model of the settings.
+  zitadel.object.v2.RequestContext ctx = 1;
+  // link is the collection of links to which the setting should be set.
+  //
+  // Validation:
+  //   - Each well-known type (TERMS_OF_SERVICE, PRIVACY_POLICY, etc.)
+  //     may appear at most once.
+  //   - CUSTOM links may appear multiple times.
+  //   - url must be a valid absolute URL or a mailto address.
+  //   - translation_key is required when type is CUSTOM.
+  //   - translation_key must be empty for well-known types.
+  repeated Link links = 2;
+}
+
+message SetLinkSettingsResponse {
+  google.protobuf.Timestamp change_date = 1;
+  LinkSettings settings = 2;
+}
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Reset
+// ============================================================================
+
+message ResetLinkSettingsRequest {
+  // ctx specifies the context for which the link settings should be reset.
+  // This can be the instance, organization,... according to the hierarchical
+  // model of the settings.
+  zitadel.object.v2.RequestContext ctx = 1;
+}
+
+message ResetLinkSettingsResponse {
+  google.protobuf.Timestamp change_date = 1;
+  LinkSettings settings = 2;
+}
diff --git a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/settings_service.proto b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/settings_service.proto
index 8d5fe8eea..45f7a3410 100644
--- a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/settings_service.proto
+++ b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/settings_service.proto
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import "zitadel/settings/v2/settings.proto";
 import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto";
 import "zitadel/filter/v2/filter.proto";
 import "zitadel/settings/v2/organization_settings.proto";
+import "zitadel/settings/v2/link_settings.proto";
+import "zitadel/settings/v2/effective_settings.proto";
 
 option go_package = "github.com/zitadel/zitadel/pkg/grpc/settings/v2;settings";
 
@@ -329,7 +331,11 @@ service SettingsService {
   //
   // Required permissions:
   //   - `policy.read`
+  //
+  // Deprecated: use GetLinkSettings instead
   rpc GetLegalAndSupportSettings (GetLegalAndSupportSettingsRequest) returns (GetLegalAndSupportSettingsResponse) {
+    option deprecated = true;
+
     option (google.api.http) = {
       get: "/v2/settings/legal_support"
     };
@@ -341,6 +347,7 @@ service SettingsService {
     };
 
     option (grpc.gateway.protoc_gen_openapiv2.options.openapiv2_operation) = {
+      deprecated: true,
       responses: {
         key: "200"
         value: {
@@ -574,6 +581,63 @@ service SettingsService {
       }
     };
   }
+
+  // Get Link settings
+  //
+  // Returns the effective links for the requested scope.
+  // Source is tracked for the list as a whole — the entire list
+  // is either inherited or overridden, never partially merged.
+  rpc GetLinkSettings(GetLinkSettingsRequest) returns (GetLinkSettingsResponse){
+    option (zitadel.protoc_gen_zitadel.v2.options) = {
+      auth_option: {
+        permission: "iam.policy.read"
+      }
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Set Link settings
+  //
+  // Replaces the entire link list at the requested scope.
+  // This is a full replacement, not a merge — omitted links are removed.
+  //
+  // To add a link, include the full list with the new link appended.
+  // To remove a link, include the full list without it.
+  rpc SetLinkSettings(SetLinkSettingsRequest) returns (SetLinkSettingsResponse) {
+    option (zitadel.protoc_gen_zitadel.v2.options) = {
+      auth_option: {
+        permission: "iam.policy.write"
+      }
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Reset link settings
+  //
+  // Removes all link overrides at the requested scope.
+  // The scope falls back to its parent's values.
+  //
+  // Unlike other settings, there is no per-field reset — links are
+  // managed as a list, so reset always clears the entire list.
+  rpc ResetLinkSettings(ResetLinkSettingsRequest) returns (ResetLinkSettingsResponse) {
+    option (zitadel.protoc_gen_zitadel.v2.options) = {
+      auth_option: {
+        permission: "iam.policy.write"
+      }
+    };
+  }
+
+  // Get effective settings
+  //
+  // Gets all settings which are requested in the request.
+  // The settings values are resolved using the hierarchical model.
+  // Only the resolved settings are returned, without the source
+  // which describes from which hierarchical level they came.
+  rpc GetEffectiveSettings(GetEffectiveSettingsRequest) returns (GetEffectiveSettingsResponse) {
+    option (zitadel.protoc_gen_zitadel.v2.options) = {
+      auth_option: {
+        permission: "iam.policy.read"
+      }
+    };
+  }
 }
 
 message GetLoginSettingsRequest {
@@ -641,6 +705,7 @@ message GetDomainSettingsResponse {
   zitadel.settings.v2.DomainSettings settings = 2;
 }
 
+// Deprecated: use GetLinkSettings instead
 message GetLegalAndSupportSettingsRequest {
   // Specify the context for which the legal and support settings should be returned.
   // This can be the instance or an organization.
@@ -649,6 +714,7 @@ message GetLegalAndSupportSettingsRequest {
   zitadel.object.v2.RequestContext ctx = 1;
 }
 
+// Deprecated: use GetLinkSettings instead
 message GetLegalAndSupportSettingsResponse {
   zitadel.object.v2.Details details = 1;
   zitadel.settings.v2.LegalAndSupportSettings settings = 2;
diff --git a/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/source.proto b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/source.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a8f7b686
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/zitadel/settings/v2/source.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package zitadel.settings.v2;
+
+option go_package = "github.com/zitadel/zitadel/pkg/grpc/settings/v2;settings";
+
+// ============================================================================
+// Enums
+// ============================================================================
+
+// Source defines the levels of hierarchy for which settings can be
+// written/retrieved.
+enum Source {
+  SOURCE_UNSPECIFIED = 0;
+  SOURCE_SYSTEM = 1;        // hard-coded default, not settable via API
+  SOURCE_INSTANCE = 2;
+  SOURCE_ORGANIZATION = 3;
+  SOURCE_PROJECT = 4;
+  SOURCE_APPLICATION = 5;
+}