diff --git a/env.go b/env.go
index 1db6f8f..c5c8867 100644
--- a/env.go
+++ b/env.go
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ type EnvSettings struct {
 	ImageGeneration bool   `json:"image-generation"`
 }
 
+type EnvUI struct {
+	ReducedMotion bool `json:"reduced-motion"`
+}
+
 type EnvUser struct {
 	ID       string `json:"id"`
 	Username string `json:"username"`
@@ -41,6 +45,7 @@ type Environment struct {
 	Debug          bool              `json:"debug"`
 	Tokens         EnvTokens         `json:"tokens"`
 	Settings       EnvSettings       `json:"settings"`
+	UI             EnvUI             `json:"ui"`
 	Authentication EnvAuthentication `json:"authentication"`
 }
 
@@ -165,6 +170,8 @@ func (e *Environment) Store() error {
 			"$.settings.title-model":      {yaml.HeadComment(" model used to generate titles (needs to have structured output support; default: google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite)")},
 			"$.settings.image-generation": {yaml.HeadComment(" allow image generation (optional; default: true)")},
 
+			"$.ui.reduced-motion": {yaml.HeadComment(" disables things like the floating stars in the background (optional; default: false)")},
+
 			"$.authentication.enabled": {yaml.HeadComment(" require login with username and password")},
 			"$.authentication.users":   {yaml.HeadComment(" list of users with bcrypt password hashes")},
 		}
diff --git a/example.config.yml b/example.config.yml
index aa408d8..8e703f5 100644
--- a/example.config.yml
+++ b/example.config.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ settings:
   cleanup: true
   # model used to generate titles (needs to have structured output support; default: google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite)
   title-model: google/gemini-2.5-flash-lite
+  # allow image generation (optional; default: true)
+  image-generation: true
+
+ui:
+  # disables things like the floating stars in the background (optional; default: false)
+  reduced-motion: false
 
 authentication:
   # require login with username and password
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 1436979..9e14ad9 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -36,13 +36,16 @@ func main() {
 
 	r.Get("/-/data", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		RespondJson(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{
-			"authentication": env.Authentication.Enabled,
-			"authenticated":  IsAuthenticated(r),
-			"search":         env.Tokens.Exa != "",
-			"icons":          icons,
-			"models":         models,
-			"prompts":        Prompts,
-			"version":        Version,
+			"authenticated": IsAuthenticated(r),
+			"config": map[string]any{
+				"auth":   env.Authentication.Enabled,
+				"search": env.Tokens.Exa != "",
+				"motion": env.UI.ReducedMotion,
+			},
+			"icons":   icons,
+			"models":  models,
+			"prompts": Prompts,
+			"version": Version,
 		})
 	})
 
diff --git a/static/js/chat.js b/static/js/chat.js
index 77c1947..09d40e3 100644
--- a/static/js/chat.js
+++ b/static/js/chat.js
@@ -1358,6 +1358,59 @@
 		$authentication.classList.add("open");
 	}
 
+	function initFloaters() {
+		const $floaters = document.getElementById("floaters"),
+			colors = ["#8aadf4", "#c6a0f6", "#8bd5ca", "#91d7e3", "#b7bdf8"],
+			count = Math.floor((window.outerHeight * window.outerWidth) / 98000);
+
+		function rand(a, b, rnd = false) {
+			const num = Math.random() * (b - a) + a;
+
+			if (rnd) {
+				return Math.floor(num);
+			}
+
+			return num;
+		}
+
+		function place(el, init = false) {
+			el.style.setProperty("--x", `${rand(0, 100).toFixed(4)}vw`);
+			el.style.setProperty("--y", `${rand(0, 100).toFixed(4)}vh`);
+
+			if (init) {
+				return;
+			}
+
+			const time = rand(140, 160);
+
+			el.style.setProperty("--time", `${time.toFixed(2)}s`);
+
+			setTimeout(() => {
+				place(el);
+			}, time * 1000);
+		}
+
+		for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {
+			const el = document.createElement("div");
+
+			el.className = "floater";
+
+			el.style.setProperty("--size", `${rand(2, 4, true)}px`);
+			el.style.setProperty("--color", colors[rand(0, colors.length, true)]);
+
+			$floaters.appendChild(el);
+
+			place(el, true);
+
+			setTimeout(
+				() => {
+					place(el);
+				},
+				rand(0, 1000, true)
+			);
+		}
+	}
+
 	async function loadData() {
 		const [_, data] = await Promise.all([connectDB(), json("/-/data")]);
 
@@ -1383,10 +1436,15 @@
 		}
 
 		// update search availability
-		searchAvailable = data.search;
+		searchAvailable = data.config.search;
+
+		// initialize floaters (unless disabled)
+		if (!data.config.motion) {
+			initFloaters();
+		}
 
 		// show login modal
-		if (data.authentication && !data.authenticated) {
+		if (data.config.authentication && !data.authenticated) {
 			$authentication.classList.add("open");
 		}
 
@@ -2022,56 +2080,3 @@
 		document.body.classList.remove("loading");
 	});
 })();
-
-(() => {
-	const $floaters = document.getElementById("floaters"),
-		colors = ["#8aadf4", "#c6a0f6", "#8bd5ca", "#91d7e3", "#b7bdf8"],
-		count = Math.floor((window.outerHeight * window.outerWidth) / 98000);
-
-	function rand(a, b, rnd = false) {
-		const num = Math.random() * (b - a) + a;
-
-		if (rnd) {
-			return Math.floor(num);
-		}
-
-		return num;
-	}
-
-	function place(el, init = false) {
-		el.style.setProperty("--x", `${rand(0, 100).toFixed(4)}vw`);
-		el.style.setProperty("--y", `${rand(0, 100).toFixed(4)}vh`);
-
-		if (init) {
-			return;
-		}
-
-		const time = rand(140, 160);
-
-		el.style.setProperty("--time", `${time.toFixed(2)}s`);
-
-		setTimeout(() => {
-			place(el);
-		}, time * 1000);
-	}
-
-	for (let i = 0; i < count; i++) {
-		const el = document.createElement("div");
-
-		el.className = "floater";
-
-		el.style.setProperty("--size", `${rand(2, 4, true)}px`);
-		el.style.setProperty("--color", colors[rand(0, colors.length, true)]);
-
-		$floaters.appendChild(el);
-
-		place(el, true);
-
-		setTimeout(
-			() => {
-				place(el);
-			},
-			rand(0, 1000, true)
-		);
-	}
-})();