diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
index 8770f6037dc3..4860b9d9135e 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppActionHandlers.cpp
@@ -320,7 +320,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                 if (auto activeControl = activeTab->GetActiveTerminalControl())
                 {
                     auto controlSettings = activeControl.Settings();
-                    if (_settings->ApplyColorScheme(controlSettings, realArgs.SchemeName()))
+                    const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+                    if (settingsImpl->ApplyColorScheme(controlSettings, realArgs.SchemeName()))
                     {
                         activeControl.UpdateSettings(controlSettings);
                         args.Handled(true);
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
index 6e3490fba9be..ded323ba4e58 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.cpp
@@ -165,6 +165,17 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         return nullptr;
     }
 
+    // Method Description:
+    // - Returns the settings currently in use by the entire Terminal application.
+    // Throws:
+    // - HR E_INVALIDARG if the app isn't up and running.
+    const TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings AppLogic::CurrentAppSettings()
+    {
+        auto appLogic{ ::winrt::TerminalApp::implementation::AppLogic::Current() };
+        THROW_HR_IF_NULL(E_INVALIDARG, appLogic);
+        return appLogic->GetSettings();
+    }
+
     AppLogic::AppLogic() :
         _dialogLock{},
         _loadedInitialSettings{ false },
@@ -238,7 +249,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // so this setting is overridden to false no matter what the preference is.
         if (_isUwp)
         {
-            _settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar(false);
+            _settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar(false);
         }
 
         _root->SetSettings(_settings, false);
@@ -256,14 +267,14 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         });
         _root->Create();
 
-        _ApplyTheme(_settings->GlobalSettings().Theme());
+        _ApplyTheme(_settings.GlobalSettings().Theme());
         _ApplyStartupTaskStateChange();
 
         TraceLoggingWrite(
             g_hTerminalAppProvider,
             "AppCreated",
             TraceLoggingDescription("Event emitted when the application is started"),
-            TraceLoggingBool(_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar(), "TabsInTitlebar"),
+            TraceLoggingBool(_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar(), "TabsInTitlebar"),
             TraceLoggingKeyword(MICROSOFT_KEYWORD_MEASURES),
             TelemetryPrivacyDataTag(PDT_ProductAndServicePerformance));
     }
@@ -310,7 +321,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // details here, but it does have the desired effect.
         // It's not enough to set the theme on the dialog alone.
         auto themingLambda{ [this](const Windows::Foundation::IInspectable& sender, const RoutedEventArgs&) {
-            auto theme{ _settings->GlobalSettings().Theme() };
+            auto theme{ _settings.GlobalSettings().Theme() };
             auto element{ sender.try_as<winrt::Windows::UI::Xaml::FrameworkElement>() };
             while (element)
             {
@@ -400,7 +411,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // Make sure the lines of text wrap
         warningsTextBlock.TextWrapping(TextWrapping::Wrap);
 
-        const auto& warnings = _settings->GetWarnings();
+        const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+        const auto& warnings = settingsImpl->GetWarnings();
         for (const auto& warning : warnings)
         {
             // Try looking up the warning message key for each warning.
@@ -483,7 +495,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         }
 
         // Use the default profile to determine how big of a window we need.
-        const auto [_, settings] = _settings->BuildSettings(nullptr);
+        const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+        const auto [_, settings] = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(nullptr);
 
         auto proposedSize = TermControl::GetProposedDimensions(settings, dpi);
 
@@ -492,7 +505,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // GH#2061 - If the global setting "Always show tab bar" is
         // set or if "Show tabs in title bar" is set, then we'll need to add
         // the height of the tab bar here.
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar())
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar())
         {
             // If we're showing the tabs in the titlebar, we need to use a
             // TitlebarControl here to calculate how much space to reserve.
@@ -506,7 +519,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             titlebar.Measure({ SHRT_MAX, SHRT_MAX });
             proposedSize.Height += (titlebar.DesiredSize().Height) * scale;
         }
-        else if (_settings->GlobalSettings().AlwaysShowTabs())
+        else if (_settings.GlobalSettings().AlwaysShowTabs())
         {
             // Otherwise, let's use a TabRowControl to calculate how much extra
             // space we'll need.
@@ -544,7 +557,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
 
         // GH#4620/#5801 - If the user passed --maximized or --fullscreen on the
         // commandline, then use that to override the value from the settings.
-        const auto valueFromSettings = _settings->GlobalSettings().LaunchMode();
+        const auto valueFromSettings = _settings.GlobalSettings().LaunchMode();
         const auto valueFromCommandlineArgs = _appArgs.GetLaunchMode();
         return valueFromCommandlineArgs.has_value() ?
                    valueFromCommandlineArgs.value() :
@@ -569,7 +582,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             LoadSettings();
         }
 
-        const auto initialPosition{ _settings->GlobalSettings().InitialPosition() };
+        const auto initialPosition{ _settings.GlobalSettings().InitialPosition() };
         return {
             initialPosition.X ? initialPosition.X.Value() : defaultInitialX,
             initialPosition.Y ? initialPosition.Y.Value() : defaultInitialY
@@ -584,7 +597,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             LoadSettings();
         }
 
-        return _settings->GlobalSettings().Theme();
+        return _settings.GlobalSettings().Theme();
     }
 
     bool AppLogic::GetShowTabsInTitlebar()
@@ -595,7 +608,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             LoadSettings();
         }
 
-        return _settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar();
+        return _settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar();
     }
 
     // Method Description:
@@ -616,9 +629,9 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         try
         {
             auto newSettings = _isUwp ? CascadiaSettings::LoadUniversal() : CascadiaSettings::LoadAll();
-            _settings.copy_from(winrt::get_self<CascadiaSettings>(newSettings));
+            _settings = newSettings;
 
-            auto settingsImpl = _settings.as<CascadiaSettings>();
+            const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
             const auto& warnings = settingsImpl->GetWarnings();
             hr = warnings.size() == 0 ? S_OK : S_FALSE;
         }
@@ -677,7 +690,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
 
         if (FAILED(_settingsLoadedResult))
         {
-            _settings.copy_from(winrt::get_self<CascadiaSettings>(CascadiaSettings::LoadDefaults()));
+            _settings = CascadiaSettings::LoadDefaults();
         }
 
         auto end = std::chrono::high_resolution_clock::now();
@@ -773,7 +786,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         co_await winrt::resume_foreground(_root->Dispatcher());
 
         // Refresh the UI theme
-        _ApplyTheme(_settings->GlobalSettings().Theme());
+        _ApplyTheme(_settings.GlobalSettings().Theme());
     }
 
     fire_and_forget AppLogic::_ApplyStartupTaskStateChange()
@@ -792,7 +805,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         if (auto page{ weakThis.get() })
         {
             StartupTaskState state;
-            bool tryEnableStartupTask = _settings->GlobalSettings().StartOnUserLogin();
+            bool tryEnableStartupTask = _settings.GlobalSettings().StartOnUserLogin();
             StartupTask task = co_await StartupTask::GetAsync(StartupTaskName);
 
             state = task.State();
@@ -859,7 +872,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // - Returns a pointer to the global shared settings.
     [[nodiscard]] TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings AppLogic::GetSettings() const noexcept
     {
-        return *_settings;
+        return _settings;
     }
 
     // Method Description:
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.h
index 620da276bf39..351247d22941 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/AppLogic.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     {
     public:
         static AppLogic* Current() noexcept;
+        static const TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings CurrentAppSettings();
 
         AppLogic();
         ~AppLogic() = default;
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // updated in _ApplyTheme. The root currently is _root.
         winrt::com_ptr<TerminalPage> _root{ nullptr };
 
-        winrt::com_ptr<CascadiaSettings> _settings{ nullptr };
+        TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings _settings{ nullptr };
 
         HRESULT _settingsLoadedResult;
         winrt::hstring _settingsLoadExceptionText{};
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.cpp
index 8205cd2dd963..28912e7858a1 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.cpp
@@ -364,8 +364,7 @@ void CascadiaSettings::_ReorderProfilesToMatchUserSettingsOrder()
 // - <none>
 void CascadiaSettings::_RemoveHiddenProfiles()
 {
-    uint32_t i = 0;
-    while (i < _profiles.Size())
+    for (uint32_t i{}; i < _profiles.Size();)
     {
         if (_profiles.GetAt(i).Hidden())
         {
@@ -701,7 +700,7 @@ std::string CascadiaSettings::_ApplyFirstRunChangesToSettingsTemplate(std::strin
     std::string finalSettings{ settingsTemplate };
 
     std::wstring defaultProfileGuid{ DEFAULT_WINDOWS_POWERSHELL_GUID };
-    if (const auto psCoreProfileGuid{ _GetProfileGuidByName(PowershellCoreProfileGenerator::GetPreferredPowershellProfileName().data()) })
+    if (const auto psCoreProfileGuid{ _GetProfileGuidByName(hstring{ PowershellCoreProfileGenerator::GetPreferredPowershellProfileName() }) })
     {
         defaultProfileGuid = Utils::GuidToString(*psCoreProfileGuid);
     }
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.h
index 54d4ef8f6b2f..d02704e30c68 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.h
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     {
     public:
         CascadiaSettings();
-        CascadiaSettings(const bool addDynamicProfiles);
+        explicit CascadiaSettings(const bool addDynamicProfiles);
 
         static TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings LoadDefaults();
         static TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings LoadAll();
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.idl b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.idl
index 2d9010c53bc4..58695b9dc31a 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.idl
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettings.idl
@@ -1,22 +1,16 @@
 // Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.
 // Licensed under the MIT license.
 
-import "TerminalSettings.idl";
 import "GlobalAppSettings.idl";
 import "Profile.idl";
 
 namespace TerminalApp
 {
     [default_interface] runtimeclass CascadiaSettings {
-        CascadiaSettings();
-        CascadiaSettings(Boolean addDynamicProfiles);
-
         static CascadiaSettings LoadDefaults();
         static CascadiaSettings LoadAll();
         static CascadiaSettings LoadUniversal();
 
-        TerminalSettings BuildSettings(Guid profileGuid);
-
         GlobalAppSettings GlobalSettings { get; };
 
         Windows.Foundation.Collections.IObservableVector<Profile> Profiles { get; };
@@ -25,8 +19,5 @@ namespace TerminalApp
 
         Profile FindProfile(Guid profileGuid);
         ColorScheme GetColorSchemeForProfile(Guid profileGuid);
-
-        Boolean ApplyColorScheme(Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl.IControlSettings settings, String schemeName);
-
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettingsSerialization.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettingsSerialization.cpp
index 60128f022430..e34d10e25e8c 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettingsSerialization.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/CascadiaSettingsSerialization.cpp
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ winrt::TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings CascadiaSettings::LoadUniversal()
     // If this throws, the app will catch it and use the default settings
     resultPtr->_ValidateSettings();
 
-    return resultPtr.as<winrt::TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings>();
+    return *resultPtr;
 }
 
 // Function Description:
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ void CascadiaSettings::_LayerOrCreateProfile(const Json::Value& profileJson)
             }
 
             profile->LayerJson(profileJson);
-            _profiles.Append(profile.as<winrt::TerminalApp::Profile>());
+            _profiles.Append(*profile);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/Pane.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/Pane.cpp
index 95c27e4336cf..c58de58b59d2 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/Pane.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/Pane.cpp
@@ -319,9 +319,7 @@ void Pane::_ControlConnectionStateChangedHandler(const TermControl& /*sender*/,
         return;
     }
 
-    const auto appLogic{ winrt::TerminalApp::implementation::AppLogic::Current() };
-    THROW_HR_IF_NULL(E_INVALIDARG, appLogic);
-    auto settings = appLogic->GetSettings();
+    const auto settings{ winrt::TerminalApp::implementation::AppLogic::CurrentAppSettings() };
     auto paneProfile = settings.FindProfile(_profile.value());
     if (paneProfile)
     {
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
index 9932872a682a..5cb886406d73 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.cpp
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         }
     }
 
-    winrt::fire_and_forget TerminalPage::SetSettings(winrt::com_ptr<CascadiaSettings> settings,
-                                                     bool needRefreshUI)
+    winrt::fire_and_forget TerminalPage::SetSettings(TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings settings, bool needRefreshUI)
     {
         _settings = settings;
         if (needRefreshUI)
@@ -115,14 +114,14 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         if (auto page{ weakThis.get() })
         {
             _UpdateCommandsForPalette();
-            CommandPalette().SetKeyBindings(_settings->Keybindings());
+            CommandPalette().SetKeyBindings(_settings.Keybindings());
         }
     }
 
     void TerminalPage::Create()
     {
         // Hookup the key bindings
-        _HookupKeyBindings(_settings->Keybindings());
+        _HookupKeyBindings(_settings.Keybindings());
 
         _tabContent = this->TabContent();
         _tabRow = this->TabRow();
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         auto tabRowImpl = winrt::get_self<implementation::TabRowControl>(_tabRow);
         _newTabButton = tabRowImpl->NewTabButton();
 
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar())
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar())
         {
             // Remove the TabView from the page. We'll hang on to it, we need to
             // put it in the titlebar.
@@ -207,7 +206,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                                         WI_IsFlagSet(rAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down);
 
                 // Check for DebugTap
-                bool debugTap = page->_settings->GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled() &&
+                bool debugTap = page->_settings.GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled() &&
                                 WI_IsFlagSet(lAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down) &&
                                 WI_IsFlagSet(rAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down);
 
@@ -449,14 +448,14 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     void TerminalPage::_CreateNewTabFlyout()
     {
         auto newTabFlyout = WUX::Controls::MenuFlyout{};
-        auto keyBindings = _settings->Keybindings();
+        auto keyBindings = _settings.Keybindings();
 
-        const winrt::guid defaultProfileGuid = _settings->GlobalSettings().DefaultProfile();
+        const auto defaultProfileGuid = _settings.GlobalSettings().DefaultProfile();
         // the number of profiles should not change in the loop for this to work
-        auto const profileCount = gsl::narrow_cast<int>(_settings->Profiles().Size());
+        auto const profileCount = gsl::narrow_cast<int>(_settings.Profiles().Size());
         for (int profileIndex = 0; profileIndex < profileCount; profileIndex++)
         {
-            const auto& profile = _settings->Profiles().GetAt(profileIndex);
+            const auto profile = _settings.Profiles().GetAt(profileIndex);
             auto profileMenuItem = WUX::Controls::MenuFlyoutItem{};
 
             // Add the keyboard shortcuts based on the number of profiles defined
@@ -512,7 +511,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                                             WI_IsFlagSet(rAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down);
 
                     // Check for DebugTap
-                    bool debugTap = page->_settings->GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled() &&
+                    bool debugTap = page->_settings.GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled() &&
                                     WI_IsFlagSet(lAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down) &&
                                     WI_IsFlagSet(rAltState, CoreVirtualKeyStates::Down);
 
@@ -617,7 +616,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     void TerminalPage::_OpenNewTab(const winrt::TerminalApp::NewTerminalArgs& newTerminalArgs)
     try
     {
-        const auto [profileGuid, settings] = _settings.as<CascadiaSettings>()->BuildSettings(newTerminalArgs);
+        const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+        const auto [profileGuid, settings] = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(newTerminalArgs);
 
         _CreateNewTabFromSettings(profileGuid, settings);
 
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                                         newTerminalArgs.Profile().empty());
 
         // Lookup the name of the color scheme used by this profile.
-        const auto scheme = _settings->GetColorSchemeForProfile(profileGuid);
+        const auto scheme = _settings.GetColorSchemeForProfile(profileGuid);
         // If they explicitly specified `null` as the scheme (indicating _no_ scheme), log
         // that as the empty string.
         const auto schemeName = scheme ? scheme.Name() : L"\0";
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         auto connection = _CreateConnectionFromSettings(profileGuid, settings);
 
         TerminalConnection::ITerminalConnection debugConnection{ nullptr };
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled())
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().DebugFeaturesEnabled())
         {
             const CoreWindow window = CoreWindow::GetForCurrentThread();
             const auto rAltState = window.GetKeyState(VirtualKey::RightMenu);
@@ -725,7 +725,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         }
 
         // Set this tab's icon to the icon from the user's profile
-        const auto profile = _settings->FindProfile(profileGuid);
+        const auto profile = _settings.FindProfile(profileGuid);
         if (profile != nullptr && !profile.IconPath().empty())
         {
             newTabImpl->UpdateIcon(profile.GetExpandedIconPath());
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     TerminalConnection::ITerminalConnection TerminalPage::_CreateConnectionFromSettings(GUID profileGuid,
                                                                                         TerminalApp::TerminalSettings settings)
     {
-        const auto profile = _settings->FindProfile(profileGuid);
+        const auto profile = _settings.FindProfile(profileGuid);
 
         TerminalConnection::ITerminalConnection connection{ nullptr };
 
@@ -948,7 +948,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     {
         auto newTabTitle = tab.GetActiveTitle();
 
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTitleInTitlebar() &&
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTitleInTitlebar() &&
             tab.IsFocused())
         {
             _titleChangeHandlers(*this, newTabTitle);
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         if (lastFocusedProfileOpt.has_value())
         {
             const auto lastFocusedProfile = lastFocusedProfileOpt.value();
-            const auto matchingProfile = _settings->FindProfile(lastFocusedProfile);
+            const auto matchingProfile = _settings.FindProfile(lastFocusedProfile);
             if (matchingProfile)
             {
                 tab.UpdateIcon(matchingProfile.GetExpandedIconPath());
@@ -982,7 +982,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // - Handle changes to the tab width set by the user
     void TerminalPage::_UpdateTabWidthMode()
     {
-        _tabView.TabWidthMode(_settings->GlobalSettings().TabWidthMode());
+        _tabView.TabWidthMode(_settings.GlobalSettings().TabWidthMode());
     }
 
     // Method Description:
@@ -993,9 +993,9 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // Show tabs when there's more than 1, or the user has chosen to always
         // show the tab bar.
         const bool isVisible = (!_isFullscreen && !_isInFocusMode) &&
-                               (_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar() ||
+                               (_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTabsInTitlebar() ||
                                 (_tabs.Size() > 1) ||
-                                _settings->GlobalSettings().AlwaysShowTabs());
+                                _settings.GlobalSettings().AlwaysShowTabs());
 
         // collapse/show the tabs themselves
         _tabView.Visibility(isVisible ? Visibility::Visible : Visibility::Collapsed);
@@ -1030,7 +1030,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                 const auto& profileGuid = focusedTab->GetFocusedProfile();
                 if (profileGuid.has_value())
                 {
-                    const auto settings = _settings->BuildSettings(profileGuid.value());
+                    const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+                    const auto settings = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(profileGuid.value());
                     _CreateNewTabFromSettings(profileGuid.value(), settings);
                 }
             }
@@ -1197,7 +1198,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             // leftward from 0 to tabCount - 1.
             const auto newTabIndex = ((tabCount + *index + (bMoveRight ? 1 : -1)) % tabCount);
 
-            if (_settings->GlobalSettings().UseTabSwitcher())
+            if (_settings.GlobalSettings().UseTabSwitcher())
             {
                 if (CommandPalette().Visibility() == Visibility::Visible)
                 {
@@ -1385,7 +1386,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     //   than one tab opened, show a warning dialog.
     void TerminalPage::CloseWindow()
     {
-        if (_tabs.Size() > 1 && _settings->GlobalSettings().ConfirmCloseAllTabs())
+        if (_tabs.Size() > 1 && _settings.GlobalSettings().ConfirmCloseAllTabs())
         {
             _ShowCloseWarningDialog();
         }
@@ -1463,7 +1464,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
                 if (current_guid)
                 {
                     profileFound = true;
-                    controlSettings = _settings->BuildSettings(current_guid.value());
+                    const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+                    controlSettings = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(current_guid.value());
                     realGuid = current_guid.value();
                 }
                 // TODO: GH#5047 - In the future, we should get the Profile of
@@ -1481,7 +1483,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             }
             if (!profileFound)
             {
-                std::tie(realGuid, controlSettings) = _settings.as<CascadiaSettings>()->BuildSettings(newTerminalArgs);
+                const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+                std::tie(realGuid, controlSettings) = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(newTerminalArgs);
             }
 
             const auto controlConnection = _CreateConnectionFromSettings(realGuid, controlSettings);
@@ -1565,7 +1568,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // - the title of the focused control if there is one, else "Windows Terminal"
     hstring TerminalPage::Title()
     {
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().ShowTitleInTitlebar())
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().ShowTitleInTitlebar())
         {
             auto selectedIndex = _tabView.SelectedIndex();
             if (selectedIndex >= 0)
@@ -1660,7 +1663,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // - See Pane::CalcSnappedDimension
     float TerminalPage::CalcSnappedDimension(const bool widthOrHeight, const float dimension) const
     {
-        if (_settings->GlobalSettings().SnapToGridOnResize())
+        if (_settings.GlobalSettings().SnapToGridOnResize())
         {
             if (auto index{ _GetFocusedTabIndex() })
             {
@@ -1688,7 +1691,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         //   iff it is set
         bool useGlobal = copiedData.Formats() == nullptr;
         auto copyFormats = useGlobal ?
-                               _settings->GlobalSettings().CopyFormatting() :
+                               _settings.GlobalSettings().CopyFormatting() :
                                copiedData.Formats().Value();
 
         // copy text to dataPack
@@ -1762,11 +1765,11 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             }
 
             const bool hasNewLine = std::find(text.cbegin(), text.cend(), L'\n') != text.cend();
-            const bool warnMultiLine = hasNewLine && _settings->GlobalSettings().WarnAboutMultiLinePaste();
+            const bool warnMultiLine = hasNewLine && _settings.GlobalSettings().WarnAboutMultiLinePaste();
 
             constexpr const std::size_t minimumSizeForWarning = 1024 * 5; // 5 KiB
             const bool warnLargeText = text.size() > minimumSizeForWarning &&
-                                       _settings->GlobalSettings().WarnAboutLargePaste();
+                                       _settings.GlobalSettings().WarnAboutLargePaste();
 
             if (warnMultiLine || warnLargeText)
             {
@@ -1998,11 +2001,11 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     {
         // Re-wire the keybindings to their handlers, as we'll have created a
         // new AppKeyBindings object.
-        _HookupKeyBindings(_settings->Keybindings());
+        _HookupKeyBindings(_settings.Keybindings());
 
         // Refresh UI elements
-        auto profiles = _settings->Profiles();
-        for (auto profile : profiles)
+        auto profiles = _settings.Profiles();
+        for (const auto& profile : profiles)
         {
             const auto profileGuid = profile.Guid();
 
@@ -2010,7 +2013,8 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
             {
                 // BuildSettings can throw an exception if the profileGuid does
                 // not belong to an actual profile in the list of profiles.
-                const auto settings = _settings->BuildSettings(profileGuid);
+                const auto settingsImpl{ winrt::get_self<implementation::CascadiaSettings>(_settings) };
+                const auto settings = settingsImpl->BuildSettings(profileGuid);
 
                 for (auto tab : _tabs)
                 {
@@ -2050,7 +2054,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         // Reload the current value of alwaysOnTop from the settings file. This
         // will let the user hot-reload this setting, but any runtime changes to
         // the alwaysOnTop setting will be lost.
-        _isAlwaysOnTop = _settings->GlobalSettings().AlwaysOnTop();
+        _isAlwaysOnTop = _settings.GlobalSettings().AlwaysOnTop();
         _alwaysOnTopChangedHandlers(*this, nullptr);
     }
 
@@ -2108,11 +2112,11 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     // - <none>
     void TerminalPage::_UpdateCommandsForPalette()
     {
-        IMap<winrt::hstring, winrt::TerminalApp::Command> copyOfCommands = _ExpandCommands(_settings->GlobalSettings().GetCommands(),
-                                                                                           _settings->Profiles().GetView(),
-                                                                                           _settings->GlobalSettings().GetColorSchemes());
+        IMap<winrt::hstring, winrt::TerminalApp::Command> copyOfCommands = _ExpandCommands(_settings.GlobalSettings().GetCommands(),
+                                                                                           _settings.Profiles().GetView(),
+                                                                                           _settings.GlobalSettings().GetColorSchemes());
 
-        _recursiveUpdateCommandKeybindingLabels(_settings.as<TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings>(), copyOfCommands.GetView());
+        _recursiveUpdateCommandKeybindingLabels(_settings, copyOfCommands.GetView());
         _recursiveUpdateCommandIcons(copyOfCommands.GetView());
 
         // Update the command palette when settings reload
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
index 04c20e702183..730568321bdf 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalPage.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
     public:
         TerminalPage();
 
-        winrt::fire_and_forget SetSettings(com_ptr<CascadiaSettings> settings, bool needRefreshUI);
+        winrt::fire_and_forget SetSettings(TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings settings, bool needRefreshUI);
 
         void Create();
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ namespace winrt::TerminalApp::implementation
         Windows::UI::Xaml::Controls::Grid _tabContent{ nullptr };
         Microsoft::UI::Xaml::Controls::SplitButton _newTabButton{ nullptr };
 
-        com_ptr<CascadiaSettings> _settings{ nullptr };
+        TerminalApp::CascadiaSettings _settings{ nullptr };
 
         Windows::Foundation::Collections::IObservableVector<TerminalApp::Tab> _tabs;
         winrt::com_ptr<Tab> _GetStrongTabImpl(const uint32_t index) const;