diff --git a/applications/test/argList/Test-argList.C b/applications/test/argList/Test-argList.C
index 008e8421c4..06f8c408d4 100644
--- a/applications/test/argList/Test-argList.C
+++ b/applications/test/argList/Test-argList.C
@@ -123,15 +123,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     argList::addDryRunOption("Just for testing");
     argList::addVerboseOption("Increase verbosity");
 
-    // Check -verbose before initialisation
-    UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
-
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
     Pout<< "command-line ("
         << args.options().size() << " options, "
         << args.args().size() << " args)" << nl
-        << "    " << args.commandLine().c_str() << nl << nl;
+        << "    " << args.commandLine().data() << nl << nl;
 
     Pout<< "rootPath:   " << args.rootPath() << nl
         << "globalCase: " << args.globalCaseName() << nl
diff --git a/applications/test/parallel-comm0/Test-parallel-comm0.C b/applications/test/parallel-comm0/Test-parallel-comm0.C
index e8c8a1e5b9..9185ff4cb4 100644
--- a/applications/test/parallel-comm0/Test-parallel-comm0.C
+++ b/applications/test/parallel-comm0/Test-parallel-comm0.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2022-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2022-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -67,10 +67,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     argList::noBanner();
     argList::noCheckProcessorDirectories();
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Set UPstream::debug level");
-
-    // Check -verbose before initialisation
-    UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
 
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
diff --git a/applications/test/parallel-comm2/Test-parallel-comm2.C b/applications/test/parallel-comm2/Test-parallel-comm2.C
index 5b28c75b7c..38fc45361f 100644
--- a/applications/test/parallel-comm2/Test-parallel-comm2.C
+++ b/applications/test/parallel-comm2/Test-parallel-comm2.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2022-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2022-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -66,7 +66,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     argList::noBanner();
     argList::noCheckProcessorDirectories();
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Set UPstream::debug level");
     argList::addBoolOption("info", "information");
     argList::addBoolOption("print-tree", "Report tree(s) as graph");
     argList::addBoolOption("comm-split", "Test simple comm split");
@@ -74,9 +73,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     argList::addBoolOption("host-comm", "Test Pstream host-comm");
     argList::addBoolOption("host-broadcast", "Test host-base broadcasts");
 
-    // Check -verbose before initialisation
-    UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
-
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
     const bool optPrintTree = args.found("print-tree");
diff --git a/applications/test/parallel-external-init/Test-parallel-external-init.C b/applications/test/parallel-external-init/Test-parallel-external-init.C
index 626c4902bb..5d6cef4bea 100644
--- a/applications/test/parallel-external-init/Test-parallel-external-init.C
+++ b/applications/test/parallel-external-init/Test-parallel-external-init.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -125,13 +125,16 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     argList::addVerboseOption("Set UPstream::debug level");
 
     // Check -verbose before initialisation
-    UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
+    if (!UPstream::debug)
+    {
+        UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
+    }
 
     startMPI();
 
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
-    Pout<< message().c_str();
+    Pout<< message().data();
 
     stopMPI();
 
diff --git a/applications/test/processorTopology/Test-processorTopology.C b/applications/test/processorTopology/Test-processorTopology.C
index ef3622556c..4c94445319 100644
--- a/applications/test/processorTopology/Test-processorTopology.C
+++ b/applications/test/processorTopology/Test-processorTopology.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2022-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2022-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -44,19 +44,15 @@ using namespace Foam;
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
     argList::noFunctionObjects();
-    argList::addVerboseOption("Set UPstream::debug level");
     argList::addBoolOption("comm-graph", "Test simple graph communicator");
     argList::addNote
     (
         "Create graph of OpenFOAM mesh connections"
     );
 
-    // Check -verbose before initialisation
-    UPstream::debug = argList::verbose(argc, argv);
-
     #include "setRootCase.H"
 
-    if (!Pstream::parRun())
+    if (!UPstream::parRun())
     {
         FatalErrorInFunction
             << "Only meaningful in parallel"
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
index 557d4614a5..1e316317e5 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/argList/argList.C
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2011-2017 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2015-2024 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2015-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -916,6 +916,8 @@ Foam::argList::argList
     // Pre-scan for some options needed for initial setup:
     //   -fileHandler (takes an argument)
     //   -mpi-threads (bool option)
+    //   -debug-switch, -info-switch, -opt-switch
+    //        so their values can also influence the initial setup
     //
     // Also handle -dry-run and -verbose counting
     // (it is left to the application to decide what to do with them).
@@ -963,6 +965,53 @@ Foam::argList::argList
                     emitErrorMessage = true;
                 }
             }
+            else if (strcmp(optName, "debug-switch") == 0)
+            {
+                // The '-debug-switch' option:
+                // change registered debug switch
+                if (argi < argc-1)
+                {
+                    ++argi;
+                    debug::debugObjects()
+                        .setNamedValue(argv[argi], 1);  // silent
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // emit error on the second pass
+                }
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(optName, "info-switch") == 0)
+            {
+                // The '-info-switch' option:
+                // change registered info switch
+                if (argi < argc-1)
+                {
+                    ++argi;
+                    DetailInfo << "info-switch ";
+                    debug::infoObjects()
+                        .setNamedValue(argv[argi], 1);  // silent
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // emit error on the second pass
+                }
+            }
+            else if (strcmp(optName, "opt-switch") == 0)
+            {
+                // The '-opt-switch' option:
+                // change registered optimisation switch
+                if (argi < argc-1)
+                {
+                    ++argi;
+                    DetailInfo << "opt-switch ";
+                    debug::optimisationObjects()
+                        .setNamedValue(argv[argi], 1);  // silent
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // emit error on the second pass
+                }
+            }
             else if (validParOptions.contains(optName))
             {
                 // Contains a parallel run option
@@ -977,8 +1026,6 @@ Foam::argList::argList
                 Info<< nl
                     << "Error: option '-" << optName
                     << "' requires an argument" << nl << nl;
-
-                //NO: UPstream::exit(1);  // works for serial and parallel
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1102,26 +1149,26 @@ Foam::argList::argList
                 else if (strcmp(optName, "debug-switch") == 0)
                 {
                     // The '-debug-switch' option:
-                    // change registered debug switch
+                    // dryrun reporting only (already set above)
                     DetailInfo << "debug-switch ";
                     debug::debugObjects()
-                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true);
+                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true, true);  // dryrun
                 }
                 else if (strcmp(optName, "info-switch") == 0)
                 {
                     // The '-info-switch' option:
-                    // change registered info switch
+                    // dryrun reporting only (already set above)
                     DetailInfo << "info-switch ";
                     debug::infoObjects()
-                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true);
+                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true, true);  // dryrun
                 }
                 else if (strcmp(optName, "opt-switch") == 0)
                 {
                     // The '-opt-switch' option:
-                    // change registered optimisation switch
+                    // dryrun reporting only (already set above)
                     DetailInfo << "opt-switch ";
                     debug::optimisationObjects()
-                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true);
+                        .setNamedValue(args_[argi], 1, true, true);  // dryrun
                 }
                 else
                 {
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.C b/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.C
index 4b032b3570..9b43c0db12 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.C
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
     \\  /    A nd           | www.openfoam.com
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2022 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -38,13 +38,17 @@ License
 void Foam::simpleObjectRegistry::setValues
 (
     const dictionary& dict,
-    bool report
+    bool verbose,
+    bool dryrun
 )
 {
     // Report enables output, but respect DetailInfo state as well.
-    // The local log variable captures this logic.
+    verbose = (verbose && Foam::infoDetailLevel > 0);
 
-    const bool log = (report && Foam::infoDetailLevel > 0);
+    if (dryrun && !verbose)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
 
     for (const entry& dEntry : dict)
     {
@@ -52,10 +56,24 @@ void Foam::simpleObjectRegistry::setValues
 
         simpleObjectRegistryEntry* objPtr = this->find(name);
 
-        if (objPtr)
+        if (verbose)
         {
-            Log << "    " << dEntry << nl;
+            if (objPtr)
+            {
+                Info<< "    " << dEntry << nl;
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                Info<< "    " << name << " (unregistered)" << nl;
+            }
+        }
 
+        if (dryrun)
+        {
+            // Nothing else to do
+        }
+        else if (objPtr)
+        {
             const List<simpleRegIOobject*>& objects = *objPtr;
 
             OCharStream os;
@@ -85,66 +103,88 @@ void Foam::simpleObjectRegistry::setValues
                 }
             }
         }
-        else
-        {
-            Log << "    " << name << " (unregistered)" << nl;
-        }
     }
 }
 
 
 void Foam::simpleObjectRegistry::setNamedValue
 (
-    std::string name,
+    const std::string_view name,
     int val,
-    bool report
+    bool verbose,
+    bool dryrun
 )
 {
-    // Report enables output, but respect DetailInfo state as well.
-    // The local log variable captures this logic.
+    // Respect DetailInfo state
+    verbose = (verbose && Foam::infoDetailLevel > 0);
 
-    const bool log = (report && Foam::infoDetailLevel > 0);
+    if (dryrun && !verbose)
+    {
+        return;
+    }
 
     token tok(static_cast<label>(val));
 
-    // Handle name=value
+    // Handle name=value,
+    // treating 'name=' like 'name' (ie, default value)
+
     const auto eq = name.find('=');
+    std::string_view objName = name;
+    std::string_view param;
+    std::string key;
 
-    if (eq != std::string::npos)
+    if (eq != std::string_view::npos)
     {
-        string strval(name.substr(eq+1));
-        name.erase(eq);  // Truncate the name
+        key = name.substr(0, eq);
+        param = name.substr(eq+1);
+        objName = key;
+    }
 
-        // Treat 'name=' like 'name' (ie, default value)
-        if (strval.length())
+    simpleObjectRegistryEntry* objPtr = this->find(objName.data());
+
+    // Fail early
+    if (!objPtr)
+    {
+        if (verbose)
         {
-            float fvalue(0);
-
-            if (Foam::readInt(strval, val))
-            {
-                // Parses as int
-                tok = static_cast<label>(val);
-            }
-            else if (Foam::readFloat(strval, fvalue))
-            {
-                // Parses as float
-                tok = fvalue;
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                // Accept 'name=string' for named enums,
-                tok = std::move(strval);
-            }
+            Info<< objName.data() << " (unregistered)" << nl;
         }
+        return;
     }
 
 
-    simpleObjectRegistryEntry* objPtr = this->find(name.c_str());
-
-    if (objPtr)
+    if (!param.empty())
     {
-        Log << name.c_str() << '=' << tok << nl;
+        float fvalue(0);
 
+        if (Foam::readInt(param.data(), val))
+        {
+            // Parses as int
+            tok = static_cast<label>(val);
+        }
+        else if (Foam::readFloat(param.data(), fvalue))
+        {
+            // Parses as float
+            tok = fvalue;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // Accept 'name=string' for named enums
+            tok = Foam::string(param.data(), param.size());
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (verbose)
+    {
+        Info<< objName.data() << '=' << tok << nl;
+    }
+
+    if (dryrun)
+    {
+        // Nothing else to do
+    }
+    else if (objPtr)
+    {
         // The generic interface requires an Istream.
         ITstream is(tokenList(Foam::one{}, std::move(tok)));
 
@@ -156,10 +196,6 @@ void Foam::simpleObjectRegistry::setNamedValue
             obj->readData(is);
         }
     }
-    else
-    {
-        Log << name.c_str() << " (unregistered)" << nl;
-    }
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.H b/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.H
index 6c899866bb..5823c5a516 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.H
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/global/debug/simpleObjectRegistry.H
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Copyright (C) 2012-2016 OpenFOAM Foundation
-    Copyright (C) 2019-2023 OpenCFD Ltd.
+    Copyright (C) 2019-2025 OpenCFD Ltd.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
     This file is part of OpenFOAM.
@@ -101,21 +101,39 @@ public:
 
         //- Set values (invoke callbacks) from dictionary entries
         //  Reporting honours the infoDetailLevel
-        void setValues(const dictionary& dict, bool report=false);
+        void setValues
+        (
+            const dictionary& dict,
+            //! Report changes to Info (respects infoDetailLevel)
+            bool verbose = false,
+            //! Report requested changes only, but do not effect them
+            bool dryrun = false
+        );
 
         //- Set named value, but also handle embedded 'name=value' syntax
         //  Treats 'name=' and 'name' identically.
-        //
-        //  Will also accept a floating point value, but the called objects
-        //  need to handle that.
-        //  Reporting honours the infoDetailLevel
-        void setNamedValue(std::string name, int val, bool report=false);
+        //  Also accepts a floating point value (and even strings),
+        //  but the called objects need to handle those.
+        void setNamedValue
+        (
+            const std::string_view name,
+            int val,
+            //! Report changes to Info (respects infoDetailLevel)
+            bool verbose = false,
+            //! Report requested changes only, but do not effect them
+            bool dryrun = false
+        );
 
         //- Deprecated(2021-09) renamed to setNamedValue
         //  \deprecated(2021-09) renamed to setNamedValue
-        void setNamedInt(std::string name, int val, bool report=false)
+        void setNamedInt
+        (
+            const std::string_view name,
+            int val,
+            bool verbose = false
+        )
         {
-            this->setNamedValue(name, val, report);
+            this->setNamedValue(name, val, verbose);
         }
 };