diff --git a/Free Ruler/Base.lproj/PreferencesController.xib b/Free Ruler/Base.lproj/PreferencesController.xib
index 1c0a9fb..cfb4b56 100644
--- a/Free Ruler/Base.lproj/PreferencesController.xib	
+++ b/Free Ruler/Base.lproj/PreferencesController.xib	
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
         <window title="Free Ruler Settings" allowsToolTipsWhenApplicationIsInactive="NO" autorecalculatesKeyViewLoop="NO" restorable="NO" releasedWhenClosed="NO" frameAutosaveName="preferencesWindow" animationBehavior="default" id="F0z-JX-Cv5">
             <windowStyleMask key="styleMask" titled="YES" closable="YES" miniaturizable="YES"/>
             <rect key="contentRect" x="602" y="400" width="360" height="415"/>
-            <rect key="screenRect" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="2560" height="1415"/>
+            <rect key="screenRect" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="1512" height="944"/>
             <view key="contentView" id="se5-gp-TjO">
                 <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="360" height="415"/>
                 <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask"/>
@@ -31,15 +31,15 @@
                             <color key="backgroundColor" name="textBackgroundColor" catalog="System" colorSpace="catalog"/>
                         </textFieldCell>
                     </textField>
-                    <box borderType="line" titlePosition="noTitle" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="PREF-defaults-box">
+                    <box ambiguous="YES" borderType="line" titlePosition="noTitle" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="PREF-defaults-box">
                         <rect key="frame" x="9" y="58" width="342" height="319"/>
-                        <view key="contentView" id="PREF-defaults-box-content">
+                        <view key="contentView" ambiguous="YES" id="PREF-defaults-box-content">
                             <rect key="frame" x="4" y="5" width="334" height="311"/>
                             <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask" widthSizable="YES" heightSizable="YES"/>
                             <subviews>
-                                <customView id="PREF-controls" customClass="RulerSettingsControlsView" customModule="Free_Ruler" customModuleProvider="target">
+                                <customView ambiguous="YES" id="PREF-controls" customClass="RulerSettingsControlsView" customModule="Free_Ruler" customModuleProvider="target">
                                     <rect key="frame" x="-4" y="4" width="340" height="309"/>
-                                    <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask" widthSizable="YES" heightSizable="YES"/>
+                                    <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask" widthSizable="YES" flexibleMinY="YES"/>
                                 </customView>
                             </subviews>
                         </view>
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@
                     <constraint firstItem="PREF-defaults-box" firstAttribute="top" secondItem="PREF-defaults-header" secondAttribute="bottom" constant="12" id="PREF-box-below-header"/>
                     <constraint firstItem="PREF-defaults-box" firstAttribute="leading" secondItem="se5-gp-TjO" secondAttribute="leading" constant="12" id="PREF-box-leading"/>
                     <constraint firstAttribute="trailing" secondItem="PREF-defaults-box" secondAttribute="trailing" constant="12" id="PREF-box-trailing"/>
-                    <constraint firstItem="PREF-factory-button" firstAttribute="top" secondItem="PREF-defaults-box" secondAttribute="bottom" constant="24" id="PREF-button-below-box"/>
                     <constraint firstAttribute="bottom" secondItem="PREF-factory-button" secondAttribute="bottom" constant="18" id="PREF-button-bottom"/>
                     <constraint firstItem="PREF-factory-button" firstAttribute="leading" secondItem="se5-gp-TjO" secondAttribute="leading" constant="18" id="PREF-button-leading"/>
                     <constraint firstItem="PREF-defaults-header" firstAttribute="leading" secondItem="se5-gp-TjO" secondAttribute="leading" constant="24" id="PREF-header-leading"/>
diff --git a/Free Ruler/Prefs.swift b/Free Ruler/Prefs.swift
index 8551c43..68a5747 100644
--- a/Free Ruler/Prefs.swift	
+++ b/Free Ruler/Prefs.swift	
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ extension Prefs {
     }
   
     static var defaultGroupRulers: Bool {
-        return true
+        return false
     }
 
     func applyDefaults(from settings: RulerSettings, layout: RulerLayoutState? = nil) {
diff --git a/Free Ruler/RulerWindow.swift b/Free Ruler/RulerWindow.swift
index 29053d1..21c4569 100644
--- a/Free Ruler/RulerWindow.swift	
+++ b/Free Ruler/RulerWindow.swift	
@@ -1352,6 +1352,10 @@ final class RulerController: NSWindowController, NSWindowDelegate, NotificationO
         captureStateFromWindow()
     }
 
+    func captureCurrentState() {
+        captureStateFromWindow()
+    }
+
     func resetPosition() {
         state.settings.zeroCorner = Prefs.defaultZeroCorner
         state.layout = RulerLayoutState.defaults(
@@ -1605,6 +1609,7 @@ final class RulerManager {
     private struct GroupedDragState {
         let draggedRulerID: UUID
         let framesByRulerID: [UUID: NSRect]
+        let attachedRulerIDs: Set<UUID>
     }
 
     private let controllerFactory: ControllerFactory
@@ -1758,18 +1763,26 @@ final class RulerManager {
     }
 
     func beginGroupedDrag(from controller: RulerController) {
+        if let groupedDragState = groupedDragState {
+            detachGroupedDragFollowers(groupedDragState)
+        }
+
         guard prefs.groupRulers,
               controllers.contains(where: { $0 === controller }) else {
             groupedDragState = nil
             return
         }
 
+        let visibleControllers = controllers.filter(\.isVisible)
         groupedDragState = GroupedDragState(
             draggedRulerID: controller.state.id,
             framesByRulerID: Dictionary(
-                uniqueKeysWithValues: controllers
-                    .filter(\.isVisible)
+                uniqueKeysWithValues: visibleControllers
                     .map { ($0.state.id, $0.rulerWindow.frame) }
+            ),
+            attachedRulerIDs: attachGroupedDragFollowers(
+                to: controller,
+                visibleControllers: visibleControllers
             )
         )
     }
@@ -1794,20 +1807,41 @@ final class RulerManager {
             isApplyingGroupedDrag = false
         }
 
+        var movedFollower = false
         for otherController in controllers where otherController !== controller && otherController.isVisible {
             guard var frame = groupedDragState.framesByRulerID[otherController.state.id] else { continue }
+            guard !rulerMovesWithGroupedDragParent(
+                otherController,
+                draggedController: controller,
+                groupedDragState: groupedDragState
+            ) else {
+                continue
+            }
 
             frame.origin.x += offset.width
             frame.origin.y += offset.height
             otherController.move(to: frame)
+            movedFollower = true
         }
 
-        notifyStateChanged()
+        if movedFollower {
+            notifyStateChanged()
+        }
     }
 
     func finishGroupedDrag(from controller: RulerController) {
+        guard let groupedDragState = groupedDragState else { return }
+        guard groupedDragState.draggedRulerID == controller.state.id else {
+            detachGroupedDragFollowers(groupedDragState)
+            self.groupedDragState = nil
+            return
+        }
+
         syncGroupedDrag(from: controller)
-        groupedDragState = nil
+        detachGroupedDragFollowers(from: controller, groupedDragState: groupedDragState)
+        captureGroupedDragFollowerStates(excluding: controller, groupedDragState: groupedDragState)
+        self.groupedDragState = nil
+        notifyStateChanged()
     }
 
     func controller(containing window: NSWindow?) -> RulerController? {
@@ -1846,6 +1880,64 @@ final class RulerManager {
         }
     }
 
+    private func attachGroupedDragFollowers(
+        to draggedController: RulerController,
+        visibleControllers: [RulerController]
+    ) -> Set<UUID> {
+        let draggedWindow = draggedController.rulerWindow
+        var attachedRulerIDs = Set<UUID>()
+
+        for followerController in visibleControllers where followerController !== draggedController {
+            let followerWindow = followerController.rulerWindow
+            guard followerWindow.parent == nil else { continue }
+
+            draggedWindow.addChildWindow(followerWindow, ordered: .below)
+            attachedRulerIDs.insert(followerController.state.id)
+        }
+
+        return attachedRulerIDs
+    }
+
+    private func detachGroupedDragFollowers(_ groupedDragState: GroupedDragState) {
+        guard let draggedController = controller(id: groupedDragState.draggedRulerID) else { return }
+
+        detachGroupedDragFollowers(from: draggedController, groupedDragState: groupedDragState)
+    }
+
+    private func detachGroupedDragFollowers(
+        from draggedController: RulerController,
+        groupedDragState: GroupedDragState
+    ) {
+        let draggedWindow = draggedController.rulerWindow
+
+        for rulerID in groupedDragState.attachedRulerIDs {
+            guard let followerController = controller(id: rulerID),
+                  followerController.rulerWindow.parent === draggedWindow else { continue }
+
+            draggedWindow.removeChildWindow(followerController.rulerWindow)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func rulerMovesWithGroupedDragParent(
+        _ followerController: RulerController,
+        draggedController: RulerController,
+        groupedDragState: GroupedDragState
+    ) -> Bool {
+        return groupedDragState.attachedRulerIDs.contains(followerController.state.id)
+            || followerController.rulerWindow.parent === draggedController.rulerWindow
+    }
+
+    private func captureGroupedDragFollowerStates(
+        excluding draggedController: RulerController,
+        groupedDragState: GroupedDragState
+    ) {
+        for followerController in controllers where followerController !== draggedController {
+            guard groupedDragState.framesByRulerID[followerController.state.id] != nil else { continue }
+
+            followerController.captureCurrentState()
+        }
+    }
+
     private func staggeredState(from defaultState: RulerInstanceState) -> RulerInstanceState {
         var state = defaultState
         let offset = Ruler.thickness / 2
diff --git a/Free Ruler/UITestSupport+App.swift b/Free Ruler/UITestSupport+App.swift
index 5d2765b..f073020 100644
--- a/Free Ruler/UITestSupport+App.swift	
+++ b/Free Ruler/UITestSupport+App.swift	
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ extension UITestSupport {
             "NSWindow Frame preferencesWindow",
         ].forEach(defaults.removeObject(forKey:))
 
-        prefs.groupRulers = true
+        prefs.groupRulers = Prefs.defaultGroupRulers
         prefs.floatRulers = true
         prefs.rulerShadow = false
         prefs.foregroundOpacity = 90
diff --git a/FreeRulerTests/RulerCoreTests.swift b/FreeRulerTests/RulerCoreTests.swift
index f826779..d2065a8 100644
--- a/FreeRulerTests/RulerCoreTests.swift
+++ b/FreeRulerTests/RulerCoreTests.swift
@@ -251,6 +251,10 @@ final class RulerCoreTests: XCTestCase {
                 movedFirstFrame.origin.y += dragOffset.height
 
                 appDelegate.rulerManager.beginGroupedDrag(from: first)
+                XCTAssertTrue(first.rulerWindow.childWindows?.contains(second.rulerWindow) ?? false)
+                XCTAssertTrue(second.rulerWindow.parent === first.rulerWindow)
+                XCTAssertFalse(first.rulerWindow.childWindows?.contains(hidden.rulerWindow) ?? false)
+
                 first.move(to: movedFirstFrame)
                 appDelegate.rulerManager.syncGroupedDrag(from: first)
                 appDelegate.rulerManager.finishGroupedDrag(from: first)
@@ -266,6 +270,8 @@ final class RulerCoreTests: XCTestCase {
                         for: .horizontal
                     )
                 )
+                XCTAssertFalse(first.rulerWindow.childWindows?.contains(second.rulerWindow) ?? false)
+                XCTAssertNil(second.rulerWindow.parent)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -756,7 +762,7 @@ final class RulerCoreTests: XCTestCase {
             prefs.foregroundOpacity = 42
             prefs.backgroundOpacity = 21
             prefs.floatRulers = false
-            prefs.groupRulers = false
+            prefs.groupRulers = true
             prefs.rulerShadow = true
             prefs.zeroCorner = .bottomRight
             prefs.defaultHorizontalLength = 333
@@ -1452,6 +1458,18 @@ final class RulerCoreTests: XCTestCase {
         }
     }
 
+    func testGroupRulersDefaultsOffAndPersistsToUserDefaults() {
+        withRestoredRulerPreferences {
+            XCTAssertFalse(Prefs.defaultGroupRulers)
+
+            prefs.groupRulers = true
+            XCTAssertTrue(UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: "groupRulers"))
+
+            prefs.groupRulers = false
+            XCTAssertFalse(UserDefaults.standard.bool(forKey: "groupRulers"))
+        }
+    }
+
     func testZeroCornerGeometryDerivesOrientationTraits() {
         let cases: [
             (
diff --git a/FreeRulerUITests/FreeRulerUITests.swift b/FreeRulerUITests/FreeRulerUITests.swift
index ffc5b22..4f91c00 100644
--- a/FreeRulerUITests/FreeRulerUITests.swift
+++ b/FreeRulerUITests/FreeRulerUITests.swift
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
 
         horizontalRuler.click()
         app.typeKey("v", modifierFlags: [])
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
             matches: horizontalRuler.frame,
             message: "Ruler window should shrink to the visible horizontal ruler frame"
         )
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
 
         app.typeKey("v", modifierFlags: [])
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
@@ -83,20 +83,20 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
             matches: verticalRuler.frame,
             message: "Ruler window should shrink to the visible vertical ruler frame"
         )
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
     }
 
     func testGroupRulersKeyboardCommandTogglesGroupedDraggingWithoutChangingRulerWindow() {
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 3))
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
 
         let originalFrame = rulerWindow.frame
 
         horizontalRuler.click()
         app.typeKey("g", modifierFlags: [])
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
@@ -107,14 +107,14 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
         )
 
         app.typeKey("g", modifierFlags: [])
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
 
         verticalRuler.click()
         app.typeKey("g", modifierFlags: [])
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
 
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForNonExistence(timeout: 2))
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
     }
 
     private func isolateVerticalWing() {
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
 
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForExistence(timeout: 2))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForNonExistence(timeout: 2))
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
     }
 
     private func resetRulerCursorScenario() {
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ final class FreeRulerUITests: XCTestCase {
         XCTAssertTrue(rulerWindow.waitForVisibleFrame(timeout: 1))
         XCTAssertTrue(horizontalRuler.waitForVisibleFrame(timeout: 1))
         XCTAssertTrue(verticalRuler.waitForVisibleFrame(timeout: 1))
-        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: true))
+        XCTAssertTrue(waitForPreference("groupRulers", equals: false))
     }
 
     private func assertCursorSequence(on ruler: XCUIElement, label: String) {