diff --git a/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds.rs b/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds.rs
index 64b2fa262e..0b70a15a76 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds.rs
@@ -1203,8 +1203,18 @@ fn make_from(d: &Descriptor) -> Mapped {
             if let Some(n) = using.and_then(|u| get_text(u, "Nm  ")) {
                 p.insert("name".into(), n.into());
             }
-            let id = if get_ref(d, "From").is_some() { "layer.groupLayers" } else { "layer.new.group" };
-            step(id, Value::Object(p))
+            match get_ref(d, "From") {
+                // A named source layer stays the source (#7236); a target reference and an
+                // index/id source (our exporter never writes those) keep the old implicit
+                // import: the group lands on the current selection at playback.
+                Some(r) => {
+                    if let Some(t) = layer_target(r) {
+                        p.extend(t);
+                    }
+                    step("layer.groupLayers", Value::Object(p))
+                }
+                None => step("layer.new.group", Value::Object(p)),
+            }
         }
         _ => Mapped::Unsupported { harmless: false },
     }
@@ -1231,7 +1241,9 @@ fn make_to(id: &str, p: &Value) -> Option<Descriptor> {
         }
         "layer.new.group" => desc("null").with("null", class_ref("layerSection")).with("Usng", D::Descriptor(with_name("layerSection"))),
         "layer.groupLayers" => {
-            desc("null").with("null", class_ref("layerSection")).with("From", target_ref("Lyr ")).with("Usng", D::Descriptor(with_name("layerSection")))
+            // An explicit source layer goes in by name like every other layer reference; a
+            // step without one keeps the target-layer form (#7236).
+            desc("null").with("null", class_ref("layerSection")).with("From", layer_ref(p)).with("Usng", D::Descriptor(with_name("layerSection")))
         }
         "layer.new.layerViaCopy" | "layer.new.layerViaCut" => {
             let mut d = desc("null").with("Nw  ", D::Descriptor(desc("Lyr "))).with("Usng", enm("ArSl", "Slct"));
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds/tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds/tests.rs
index 7ff734b618..2e89dab8ec 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/atn_cmds/tests.rs
@@ -604,6 +604,16 @@ fn photo_filter_round_trip(params: Value) -> Option<Value> {
     }
 }
 
+/// A `Mk` layerSection step exported to .atn and imported back → (id, params), or None.
+fn group_round_trip(id: &str, params: &Value) -> Option<(String, Value)> {
+    let item = export_item(id, params, "S")?;
+    let e = event_for(&item.event)?;
+    match (e.from)(item.descriptor.as_ref()?) {
+        Mapped::Steps(steps) => steps.first().map(|(i, p)| (i.clone(), p.clone())),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn photo_filter_preset_only_step_keeps_its_resolved_color() {
     // #7235: the Photoshop descriptor keeps only a colour (`phfl`/`PhtF` are colour-only; the io
@@ -630,6 +640,44 @@ fn photo_filter_preset_only_step_keeps_its_resolved_color() {
     assert_eq!(back, json!({"density": 25}));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn group_layers_keeps_its_explicit_target_through_atn() {
+    // #7236: a recorded step with an explicit layer groups that layer, not the current
+    // selection. The source goes into the `From` reference by name and comes back the same
+    // way; a step with no source layer keeps the implicit form, imported as before.
+    let (id, p) = group_round_trip("layer.groupLayers", &json!({"layer": "A", "name": "Group"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(id, "layer.groupLayers");
+    assert_eq!(p, json!({"layer": "A", "name": "Group"}));
+    // The implicit form survives unchanged: the reference stays the target layer.
+    let (id, p) = group_round_trip("layer.groupLayers", &json!({"name": "Group"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(id, "layer.groupLayers");
+    assert_eq!(p, json!({"name": "Group"}));
+    let (id, p) = group_round_trip("layer.groupLayers", &json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(id, "layer.groupLayers");
+    assert_eq!(p, json!({}));
+    // Group Without Layers: no `From` at all, imported as a plain new group.
+    let (id, p) = group_round_trip("layer.new.group", &json!({"name": "G"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(id, "layer.new.group");
+    assert_eq!(p, json!({"name": "G"}));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn group_layers_from_index_reference_stays_implicit() {
+    // A Photoshop-authored `From` that names nothing portable (a zero-based index) keeps the
+    // old implicit import instead of inventing a wrong explicit target (#7236, edge).
+    let d = desc("null")
+        .with("null", class_ref("layerSection"))
+        .with("From", D::Reference(vec![ReferenceItem::Index { class: class("Lyr "), index: 2 }]))
+        .with("Usng", D::Descriptor(desc("layerSection").with("Nm  ", text("Group"))));
+    match make_from(&d) {
+        Mapped::Steps(steps) => {
+            assert_eq!(steps[0].0, "layer.groupLayers");
+            assert_eq!(steps[0].1, json!({"name": "Group"}));
+        }
+        _ => panic!("an index source imports as the implicit form"),
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn unsupported_shapes_become_photoshop_steps_not_errors() {
     // Image size in two different percentages, a Paint Bucket click in percent of the canvas, a