diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index e9ae6cc1a..bb3435fd1 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -894,6 +894,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "egui_extras",
  "egui_kittest",
  "image",
+ "log",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
 ]
diff --git a/crates/ui/Cargo.toml b/crates/ui/Cargo.toml
index 554ed27fe..6b1f81457 100644
--- a/crates/ui/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/ui/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ workspace = true
 
 [dependencies]
 egui = { workspace = true }
+log = "0.4"
 serde = { version = "1", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
 
 [features]
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
index d539dabe7..543e2bb62 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/model.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ pub struct StackEntry<P> {
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Floating<P> {
     /// Names the window across panel moves, and its OS window with feature `native-windows`.
-    /// Unique within a layout: [`Self::new`] and loading draw fresh ids, and merging windows
-    /// keeps the receiving window's.
+    /// Unique within a layout: [`Self::new`] and loading draw fresh ids, [`Self::with_id`]
+    /// sets one, and merging windows keeps the receiving window's.
     pub id: u64,
     /// `Split`, `Tabs` and `Stack` nodes; a `Dock` is invalid here.
     pub root: Node<P>,
@@ -122,20 +122,33 @@ pub(super) fn fresh_window_id() -> u64 {
 }
 
 impl<P> Floating<P> {
+    /// A window holding `root`. Each call makes a new window, with a fresh [`Self::id`]: build
+    /// a layout once and keep it, or give its windows ids with [`Self::with_id`]. A layout
+    /// built anew each frame without them opens new OS windows each frame.
     pub fn new(root: Node<P>, rect: [f32; 4]) -> Self {
         Self { id: fresh_window_id(), root, rect, native: None, monitor: None, monitor_size: None, minimized: false }
     }
 
+    /// A window with one group. Each call makes a new window, as [`Self::new`] does.
     pub fn single(panels: Vec<P>, active: usize, rect: [f32; 4]) -> Self {
         Self::new(Node::Tabs { panels, active }, rect)
     }
 
+    /// The window with `id`, for a layout the app builds in code, such as a default layout:
+    /// built with the same id, it is the same window, and the same OS window, on every frame.
+    /// Ids must be unique within a layout.
+    pub fn with_id(mut self, id: u64) -> Self {
+        self.id = id;
+        self
+    }
+
     pub fn panels(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &P> {
         tree_panels(&self.root).into_iter()
     }
 
     /// Groups stacked top to bottom, as a v1 layout stored them: each group over a vertical
-    /// split of the ones below it, sized by their heights. `None` without groups.
+    /// split of the ones below it, sized by their heights. `None` without groups. Each call
+    /// makes a new window, as [`Self::new`] does.
     pub fn stack(groups: Vec<Group<P>>, rect: [f32; 4]) -> Option<Self> {
         super::dock_model::stack_tree(groups).map(|root| Self::new(root, rect))
     }
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
index e383e1f12..24975f0d7 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/native_tests.rs
@@ -1084,3 +1084,50 @@ fn a_manual_resize_keeps_the_opposite_edges_and_the_minimum_size() {
     assert_eq!(resized(start, D::SouthWest, vec2(500.0, -500.0), min), [240.0, 50.0, 160.0, 100.0]);
     assert_eq!(resized(start, D::NorthEast, vec2(-500.0, 500.0), min), [100.0, 150.0, 160.0, 100.0]);
 }
+
+/// [`layout`] built anew, its window with id 7 when `with_id`.
+fn rebuilt_layout(with_id: bool) -> Layout<u32> {
+    let mut layout = layout(true);
+    if with_id {
+        layout.floating = layout.floating.into_iter().map(|w| w.with_id(7)).collect();
+    }
+    layout
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn a_layout_built_each_frame_with_ids_keeps_its_os_window() {
+    let mut d = driver(rebuilt_layout(true));
+    let viewport = d.viewport(7);
+    for _ in 0..4 {
+        d.layout = rebuilt_layout(true);
+        d.step(vec![]);
+    }
+    assert_eq!(d.host().windows.keys().copied().collect::<Vec<_>>(), [viewport], "one OS window, the same each frame");
+}
+
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+#[test]
+fn a_layout_built_each_frame_without_ids_is_warned_about() {
+    let warned = |d: &DockDriver<u32, Content>| d.ctx.data(|m| m.get_temp::<bool>(d.id.with("native-rebuilt"))).unwrap_or(false);
+    let mut d = driver(rebuilt_layout(false));
+    for _ in 0..4 {
+        d.layout = rebuilt_layout(false);
+        d.step(vec![]);
+    }
+    assert!(warned(&d));
+    assert!(d.host().windows.len() > 1, "a new OS window each frame");
+
+    // A layout kept across frames, and one rebuilt with ids, are not.
+    let mut d = driver(layout(true));
+    d.layout = rebuilt_layout(false);
+    for _ in 0..4 {
+        d.step(vec![]);
+    }
+    assert!(!warned(&d), "loaded once");
+    let mut d = driver(rebuilt_layout(true));
+    for _ in 0..4 {
+        d.layout = rebuilt_layout(true);
+        d.step(vec![]);
+    }
+    assert!(!warned(&d));
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/native.rs b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/native.rs
index 70ce6a0e6..529d1c7e6 100644
--- a/crates/ui/src/docking/render/native.rs
+++ b/crates/ui/src/docking/render/native.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ impl<P: Clone + Eq + Hash + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static> Renderer<'_, P> {
             natives.push((window, rect, viewport_id(self.id, window.id, n)));
         }
         if native {
+            #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+            self.warn_rebuilt(ctx, &natives);
             self.escape_elsewhere(ctx, None);
             // A window closed or docked during its own bar drag or resize ends it.
             let shown = |window: u64| natives.iter().any(|(w, ..)| w.id == window);
@@ -198,6 +200,26 @@ impl<P: Clone + Eq + Hash + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static> Renderer<'_, P> {
         in_window
     }
 
+    /// Debug builds: warn once when for [`REBUILT_FRAMES`] frames running, every native window
+    /// is new, with the panels of the last frame's. The app builds its layout anew each frame
+    /// without [`Floating::with_id`], so each frame opens new OS windows. A layout loaded
+    /// again does it once.
+    #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+    fn warn_rebuilt(&self, ctx: &Context, natives: &[(&Floating<P>, [f32; 4], ViewportId)]) {
+        let (key, warned) = (self.id.with("native-previous"), self.id.with("native-rebuilt"));
+        let current: Vec<(u64, Vec<P>)> = natives.iter().map(|(w, ..)| (w.id, w.panels().cloned().collect())).collect();
+        let (runs, previous) = ctx.data_mut(|d| d.remove_temp::<(usize, Vec<(u64, Vec<P>)>)>(key)).unwrap_or_default();
+        let runs = if rebuilt(&previous, &current) { runs + 1 } else { 0 };
+        if runs >= REBUILT_FRAMES && !ctx.data(|d| d.get_temp::<bool>(warned).unwrap_or(false)) {
+            log::warn!(
+                "craft-ui docking: the native floating windows get new ids every frame, so each frame opens new OS windows. \
+                 Keep the layout across frames, or give its windows ids with Floating::with_id."
+            );
+            ctx.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(warned, true));
+        }
+        ctx.data_mut(|d| d.insert_temp(key, (runs, current)));
+    }
+
     /// The main window and the shown native windows on the desktop, front first: the window
     /// focused most recently first. A window whose position is unknown is left out.
     fn map_desktop(&mut self, ctx: &Context, natives: &[(&Floating<P>, [f32; 4], ViewportId)], visible: bool) {
@@ -613,6 +635,23 @@ impl<P: Clone + Eq + Hash + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static> Renderer<'_, P> {
     }
 }
 
+/// Frames running whose native windows are all new, with the last frame's panels, before
+/// [`Renderer::warn_rebuilt`] warns.
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+const REBUILT_FRAMES: usize = 3;
+
+/// Whether every window of `current` is new to `previous`, and they hold the same panels:
+/// windows, with their panels, as `(id, panels)`.
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+fn rebuilt<P: Eq + Hash>(previous: &[(u64, Vec<P>)], current: &[(u64, Vec<P>)]) -> bool {
+    !current.is_empty() && current.iter().all(|(id, _)| previous.iter().all(|(p, _)| p != id)) && panels(previous) == panels(current)
+}
+
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+fn panels<P: Eq + Hash>(windows: &[(u64, Vec<P>)]) -> std::collections::HashSet<&Vec<P>> {
+    windows.iter().map(|(_, panels)| panels).collect()
+}
+
 /// Move and size a native window so its content is the desktop rect `to`. The size goes
 /// first, so the move puts the top-left corner in place whichever corner the window system
 /// keeps on a resize (AppKit's frame origin is the bottom left).
diff --git a/docs/ui-docking.md b/docs/ui-docking.md
index 415410057..be677fb1e 100644
--- a/docs/ui-docking.md
+++ b/docs/ui-docking.md
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ accordions, no docks), a rect, an optional native-window rect with the monitor i
 `minimized`. Its `id` names the window across panel moves (see [Native windows](#native-windows)).
 `Floating::single` makes a window with one group, `Floating::new` one with a tree, and
 `Floating::stack` one with groups stacked top to bottom (a vertical split sized by the groups'
-heights, as an app's own stacked layouts migrate); `panels()` and `contains()` read it. Saved layouts keep loading: a window stored as one group (v1) or as a
+heights, as an app's own stacked layouts migrate); `panels()` and `contains()` read it. Each of
+these calls makes a new window with a fresh `id`. Build a layout once and keep it, or give its
+windows ids with `with_id`: a layout built anew each frame, as an unsaved default layout might
+be, otherwise opens new OS windows each frame and loses their drags and places. Debug builds log
+a warning when native windows are replaced by new ones with the same panels three frames running. Saved layouts keep loading: a window stored as one group (v1) or as a
 stack of groups loads as that group or as a vertical split of the stacked groups, sized by their
 heights.
 
@@ -56,7 +60,7 @@ use craft_ui::docking::{Action, Floating, Layout, Node, Placement};
 
 let mut layout = Layout {
     root: Some(Node::Tabs { panels: vec!["layers", "properties"], active: 0 }),
-    floating: vec![Floating::single(vec!["brushes"], 0, [40.0, 80.0, 240.0, 300.0])],
+    floating: vec![Floating::single(vec!["brushes"], 0, [40.0, 80.0, 240.0, 300.0]).with_id(1)],
 };
 layout.apply(Action::Move {
     panel: "brushes",
@@ -327,7 +331,8 @@ that is not floatable, stays in-window. Floating windows get no taskbar or Alt-T
 (`with_taskbar(false)`).
 
 - **Identity.** `Floating::id` names the OS window, so a window keeps it when its panels change,
-  including when its first panel moves out. `Floating::new` and loading draw fresh ids; a layout
+  including when its first panel moves out. `Floating::new` and loading draw fresh ids, and
+  `Floating::with_id` sets one; a layout
   loads with unique ids; a window that merges into another takes the receiver's id, and a whole
   window that moves (floated again, or its only group dragged) keeps its own.
 - **Level.** The windows stay above other windows (`WindowLevel::AlwaysOnTop`), so clicking the