diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_config_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_config_tests.rs
index 9c9aa58c1fd..5928a6415af 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_config_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_config_tests.rs
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ fn agent_record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         model: None,
         env_vars: Default::default(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_settings.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_settings.rs
index 6135c671606..7b418fcdcf4 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_settings.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agent_settings.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,50 @@ pub async fn set_managed_agent_start_on_app_launch(
     .map_err(|e| format!("spawn_blocking failed: {e}"))?
 }
 
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn set_managed_agent_disable_local_spawn(
+    pubkey: String,
+    disable_local_spawn: bool,
+    app: AppHandle,
+) -> Result<ManagedAgentSummary, String> {
+    tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || {
+        let state = app.state::<AppState>();
+        let _store_guard = state
+            .managed_agents_store_lock
+            .lock()
+            .map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
+        let mut records = load_managed_agents(&app)?;
+        let mut runtimes = state
+            .managed_agent_processes
+            .lock()
+            .map_err(|error| error.to_string())?;
+
+        let (sync_changed, exited_pubkeys) =
+            sync_managed_agent_processes(&mut records, &mut runtimes, &current_instance_id(&app));
+        if sync_changed {
+            save_managed_agents(&app, &records)?;
+        }
+        for pubkey in &exited_pubkeys {
+            state.clear_agent_session_caches(pubkey);
+        }
+
+        {
+            let record = find_managed_agent_mut(&mut records, &pubkey)?;
+            record.disable_local_spawn = disable_local_spawn;
+            record.updated_at = now_iso();
+        }
+
+        save_managed_agents(&app, &records)?;
+        let record = records
+            .iter()
+            .find(|record| record.pubkey == pubkey)
+            .ok_or_else(|| format!("agent {pubkey} not found"))?;
+        super::agents::summarize_from_disk(&app, record, &runtimes)
+    })
+    .await
+    .map_err(|e| format!("spawn_blocking failed: {e}"))?
+}
+
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn set_managed_agent_auto_restart(
     pubkey: String,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents.rs
index 33b6ae44620..2d95c4a9d83 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents.rs
@@ -685,6 +685,7 @@ pub async fn create_managed_agent(
             } else {
                 input.start_on_app_launch
             },
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: input.backend.clone(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents_tests.rs
index 1c222ae23a4..dddcda663ee 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/agents_tests.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ fn bare_agent_record(
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
         backend_agent_id: None,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/delete_cascade_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/delete_cascade_tests.rs
index a4bbdeb677c..bab9bf68100 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/delete_cascade_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/delete_cascade_tests.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ fn make_agent(
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         runtime_pid,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
         backend_agent_id: None,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/inbound/inbound_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/inbound/inbound_tests.rs
index fbfede35886..5bb997976d1 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/inbound/inbound_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/inbound/inbound_tests.rs
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ fn local_agent() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: Some("local-hash".to_string()),
         env_vars: BTreeMap::from([("API_KEY".to_string(), "localsecret".to_string())]),
         start_on_app_launch: true,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: Some(1234),
         backend: crate::managed_agents::BackendKind::Provider {
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/fidelity_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/fidelity_tests.rs
index 341426fe940..ce2899f2053 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/fidelity_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/fidelity_tests.rs
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ fn make_definition(slug: &str) -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/import.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/import.rs
index 75a1edea65e..d96db8923da 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/import.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/import.rs
@@ -622,6 +622,7 @@ pub async fn confirm_agent_snapshot_import(
             persona_source_version: None,
             env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: crate::managed_agents::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/tests.rs
index fedb0e60585..983b55bc2c8 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/snapshot/tests.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ fn make_definition(slug: &str) -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/update/name_propagation_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/update/name_propagation_tests.rs
index 556127373bf..7ffcf3cac7c 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/update/name_propagation_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/personas/update/name_propagation_tests.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ fn agent(persona_id: &str, name: &str, display_name: Option<&str>) -> ManagedAge
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot.rs
index e4c08a14be0..a0e039002dd 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot.rs
@@ -575,6 +575,7 @@ pub async fn confirm_team_snapshot_import(
             persona_source_version: None,
             env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: crate::managed_agents::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot/tests.rs
index bec7f43bf8a..0896a3df866 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/commands/team_snapshot/tests.rs
@@ -202,6 +202,7 @@ fn team_export_with_instance_and_memory_level_uses_supplied_entries() {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: Default::default(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: crate::managed_agents::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
index c120ac12679..c44f841bec9 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/lib.rs
@@ -701,6 +701,7 @@ pub fn run() {
             stop_managed_agent,
             set_agent_managed_profiles,
             set_managed_agent_start_on_app_launch,
+            set_managed_agent_disable_local_spawn,
             set_managed_agent_auto_restart,
             delete_managed_agent,
             get_managed_agent_log,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_events.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_events.rs
index f0a4fabfed8..ec87027445e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_events.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_events.rs
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ mod tests {
             persona_source_version: Some("abc123".to_string()),
             env_vars: BTreeMap::from([("OPENAI_API_KEY".to_string(), "sk-secret".to_string())]),
             start_on_app_launch: true,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: Some(4242),
             backend: super::super::BackendKind::Provider {
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_envelope.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_envelope.rs
index de2f71577a6..04d89b12f7f 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_envelope.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_envelope.rs
@@ -385,6 +385,7 @@ mod tests {
             model: None,
             env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: crate::managed_agents::types::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_tests.rs
index 9f234749bc9..008c2992564 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/agent_snapshot_tests.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ fn minimal_record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
             m
         },
         start_on_app_launch: true,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: Some(12345), // MUST NOT appear
         backend: BackendKind::Provider {
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_bridge/reader_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_bridge/reader_tests.rs
index 36b6022b53b..7b9605153d5 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_bridge/reader_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/config_bridge/reader_tests.rs
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ fn test_record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         model: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: crate::managed_agents::types::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/discovery/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/discovery/tests.rs
index 2d1db692932..812a818715e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/discovery/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/discovery/tests.rs
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ fn record_with(
         provider: None,
         persona_source_version: None,
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/effective_config/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/effective_config/tests.rs
index 5b048b815cb..a35b6991e8a 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/effective_config/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/effective_config/tests.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ fn record(
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
         backend_agent_id: None,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/global_config/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/global_config/tests.rs
index 65cde47f26b..2896c8dc1d5 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/global_config/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/global_config/tests.rs
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ fn bare_record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
         backend_agent_id: None,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest/render_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest/render_tests.rs
index ed4ee2c1f9b..b0014d10212 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest/render_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/nest/render_tests.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ fn make_agent(name: &str, persona_id: Option<&str>) -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         provider: None,
         persona_source_version: None,
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/parallelism.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/parallelism.rs
index 734772d73d9..0be897b32be 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/parallelism.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/parallelism.rs
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ mod tests {
             provider: None,
             persona_source_version: None,
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/tests.rs
index af8cfe66182..5d37be4479e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/persona_events/tests.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ pub(super) fn sample_record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/readiness.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/readiness.rs
index f7f5d5c5d0e..bb7550ad134 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/readiness.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/readiness.rs
@@ -1498,6 +1498,7 @@ mod tests {
             persona_source_version: None,
             env_vars,
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/restore.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/restore.rs
index a225f492d33..8fc277dee5e 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/restore.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/restore.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,11 @@ pub async fn restore_managed_agents_on_launch(
 
         let candidates: Vec<String> = records
             .iter()
-            .filter(|record| record.start_on_app_launch && record.backend == BackendKind::Local)
+            .filter(|record| {
+                record.start_on_app_launch
+                    && record.backend == BackendKind::Local
+                    && !record.disable_local_spawn
+            })
             .map(|record| record.pubkey.clone())
             .collect();
 
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
index 0ce5ca7b219..ee4e152eafe 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime.rs
@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ pub fn build_managed_agent_summary(
         last_error: record.last_error.clone(),
         last_error_code: record.last_error_code,
         start_on_app_launch: record.start_on_app_launch,
+        disable_local_spawn: record.disable_local_spawn,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: record.auto_restart_on_config_change,
         log_path,
         respond_to: record.respond_to,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime/test_fixtures.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime/test_fixtures.rs
index 9076766b2e6..6155700c0bf 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime/test_fixtures.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime/test_fixtures.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ pub(super) fn fixture(
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime_commands.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime_commands.rs
index c0e55184b19..7d761fff501 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime_commands.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/runtime_commands.rs
@@ -260,6 +260,9 @@ fn start_pair(
     if record.backend != BackendKind::Local {
         return Err("managed runtime pairs require a local agent".into());
     }
+    if record.disable_local_spawn {
+        return Err("local spawn disabled — runtime is externally managed".into());
+    }
     if expected_updated_at.is_some_and(|expected| record.updated_at != expected) {
         return Err("managed agent changed while runtime reconciliation was in flight".into());
     }
@@ -468,7 +471,11 @@ pub async fn reconcile_managed_agent_runtimes(
     for community in communities {
         for record in records
             .iter()
-            .filter(|record| record.start_on_app_launch && record.backend == BackendKind::Local)
+            .filter(|record| {
+                record.start_on_app_launch
+                    && record.backend == BackendKind::Local
+                    && !record.disable_local_spawn
+            })
         // The legacy per-record relay pin is deliberately ignored here — see
         // `effective_agent_relay_url`. Every local auto-start agent fans out
         // to every configured community.
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_snapshot/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_snapshot/tests.rs
index b007e0b2ffa..985f215ed06 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_snapshot/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/spawn_snapshot/tests.rs
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ fn record() -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: Default::default(),
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/team_snapshot.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/team_snapshot.rs
index 2b6918b16e4..44db379526b 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/team_snapshot.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/team_snapshot.rs
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ mod tests {
                 m
             },
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/teams_tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/teams_tests.rs
index ff7900d3923..8eab8c40386 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/teams_tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/teams_tests.rs
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ fn managed_agent(name: &str) -> ManagedAgentRecord {
         persona_source_version: None,
         env_vars: std::collections::BTreeMap::new(),
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: false,
         runtime_pid: None,
         backend: crate::managed_agents::BackendKind::Local,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types.rs
index 9049482de3a..72f2f748715 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ impl AgentDefinition {
             persona_source_version: None,
             env_vars: self.env_vars,
             start_on_app_launch: false,
+            disable_local_spawn: false,
             auto_restart_on_config_change: true,
             runtime_pid: None,
             backend: BackendKind::default(),
@@ -309,6 +310,13 @@ pub struct ManagedAgentRecord {
     pub env_vars: BTreeMap<String, String>,
     #[serde(default = "default_start_on_app_launch")]
     pub start_on_app_launch: bool,
+    /// When `true`, Desktop never spawns a local process for this agent — neither
+    /// at boot-time reconciliation nor on reactive triggers (channel open, @mention).
+    /// The persona and key remain in the store so the agent can be re-activated at
+    /// any time by flipping this back to `false`. Intended for agents whose canonical
+    /// runtime is an external host (e.g. a VPS systemd unit).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub disable_local_spawn: bool,
     /// Auto-restart this agent when its effective spawn config drifts from
     /// the running process (Chunk F). Default ON; the policy loop in the
     /// frontend only fires when the agent is idle, connected, and local.
@@ -550,6 +558,7 @@ pub struct ManagedAgentSummary {
     pub last_error: Option<String>,
     pub last_error_code: Option<i64>,
     pub start_on_app_launch: bool,
+    pub disable_local_spawn: bool,
     pub auto_restart_on_config_change: bool,
     pub log_path: String,
     pub respond_to: RespondTo,
diff --git a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types/tests.rs b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types/tests.rs
index 0ae584e4acd..1742d76d78d 100644
--- a/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types/tests.rs
+++ b/desktop/src-tauri/src/managed_agents/types/tests.rs
@@ -755,6 +755,7 @@ fn summary_fixture(
         last_error: None,
         last_error_code: None,
         start_on_app_launch: false,
+        disable_local_spawn: false,
         auto_restart_on_config_change: false,
         log_path: String::new(),
         respond_to: RespondTo::OwnerOnly,
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/hooks.ts b/desktop/src/features/agents/hooks.ts
index 5d0be06109e..32316bfe57e 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/hooks.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/hooks.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ import type { HarnessDefinitionInput } from "@/shared/api/tauri";
 import { discoverAcpRuntimes } from "@/shared/api/tauriAcpDiscovery";
 import {
   setManagedAgentAutoRestart,
+  setManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawn,
   setManagedAgentStartOnAppLaunch,
   startManagedAgent,
   stopManagedAgent,
@@ -648,6 +649,24 @@ export function useSetManagedAgentStartOnAppLaunchMutation() {
   });
 }
 
+export function useSetManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawnMutation() {
+  const queryClient = useQueryClient();
+
+  return useMutation({
+    mutationFn: ({
+      pubkey,
+      disableLocalSpawn,
+    }: {
+      pubkey: string;
+      disableLocalSpawn: boolean;
+    }) => setManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawn(pubkey, disableLocalSpawn),
+    onSettled: async () => {
+      await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: managedAgentsQueryKey });
+      await queryClient.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: relayAgentsQueryKey });
+    },
+  });
+}
+
 export function useDeleteManagedAgentMutation() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
 
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/ManagedAgentRow.tsx b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/ManagedAgentRow.tsx
index 3d205ba3cce..5a430b45014 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/ManagedAgentRow.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/agents/ui/ManagedAgentRow.tsx
@@ -261,7 +261,11 @@ function AgentSummary({
             <PubKey pubkey={agent.pubkey} />
             {agent.backend.type === "local" ? (
               <span>
-                {agent.startOnAppLaunch ? "Auto-start" : "Manual start"}
+                {agent.disableLocalSpawn
+                  ? "Remote runtime"
+                  : agent.startOnAppLaunch
+                    ? "Auto-start"
+                    : "Manual start"}
               </span>
             ) : (
               <span>Remote deployment</span>
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfileAgentActions.tsx b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfileAgentActions.tsx
index 5919a16e29b..048d6b97ae7 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfileAgentActions.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfileAgentActions.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {
   CopyPlus,
   Download,
   Power,
+  Server,
   Settings,
 } from "lucide-react";
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenu({
   onDuplicatePersona,
   onExportPersona,
   onToggleAutoStart,
+  onToggleDisableLocalSpawn,
   personaActionKey,
 }: {
   archiveActions?: IdentityArchiveActions;
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenu({
   onDuplicatePersona?: () => void;
   onExportPersona?: () => void;
   onToggleAutoStart?: () => void;
+  onToggleDisableLocalSpawn?: () => void;
   personaActionKey?: string;
 }) {
   const [archiveConfirmOpen, setArchiveConfirmOpen] = React.useState(false);
@@ -47,13 +50,21 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenu({
     managedAgent !== undefined &&
     managedAgent.backend.type === "local" &&
     onToggleAutoStart !== undefined;
+  const canToggleDisableLocalSpawn =
+    managedAgent !== undefined &&
+    managedAgent.backend.type === "local" &&
+    onToggleDisableLocalSpawn !== undefined;
   const autoStartSwitchId = `user-profile-agent-auto-start-${actionKey}`;
+  const disableLocalSpawnSwitchId = `user-profile-agent-disable-local-spawn-${actionKey}`;
   const hasPrimaryActions = Boolean(onDuplicatePersona || onExportPersona);
   const hasArchiveAction =
     archiveActions?.canArchive === true &&
     archiveActions.isArchived !== undefined;
   const hasActions =
-    canToggleAutoStart || hasPrimaryActions || hasArchiveAction;
+    canToggleAutoStart ||
+    canToggleDisableLocalSpawn ||
+    hasPrimaryActions ||
+    hasArchiveAction;
 
   if (!hasActions) {
     return null;
@@ -105,6 +116,30 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenu({
               />
             </DropdownMenuItem>
           ) : null}
+          {canToggleDisableLocalSpawn ? (
+            <DropdownMenuItem
+              className="gap-3 pr-2"
+              disabled={isPending}
+              onSelect={(event) => {
+                event.preventDefault();
+                onToggleDisableLocalSpawn();
+              }}
+            >
+              <Server className="h-4 w-4 text-muted-foreground" />
+              <span className="min-w-0 flex-1 text-sm font-medium">
+                Remote runtime only
+              </span>
+              <Switch
+                aria-label="Remote runtime only"
+                checked={managedAgent.disableLocalSpawn}
+                data-testid={disableLocalSpawnSwitchId}
+                disabled={isPending}
+                id={disableLocalSpawnSwitchId}
+                onCheckedChange={onToggleDisableLocalSpawn}
+                onClick={(event) => event.stopPropagation()}
+              />
+            </DropdownMenuItem>
+          ) : null}
           {onDuplicatePersona ? (
             <DropdownMenuItem
               data-testid={`user-profile-persona-duplicate-${personaKey}`}
@@ -177,6 +212,7 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenuSlot({
   onDuplicatePersona,
   onExportPersona,
   onToggleAutoStart,
+  onToggleDisableLocalSpawn,
   personaActionKey,
   viewerIsOwner,
 }: {
@@ -189,6 +225,7 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenuSlot({
   onDuplicatePersona: () => void;
   onExportPersona: () => void;
   onToggleAutoStart: () => void;
+  onToggleDisableLocalSpawn?: () => void;
   personaActionKey?: string;
   viewerIsOwner: boolean;
 }) {
@@ -212,6 +249,7 @@ export function UserProfileAgentSettingsMenuSlot({
         {...sharedProps}
         managedAgent={managedAgent}
         onToggleAutoStart={onToggleAutoStart}
+        onToggleDisableLocalSpawn={onToggleDisableLocalSpawn}
       />
     );
   }
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
index f02b5aee097..5634ca74246 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
+++ b/desktop/src/features/profile/ui/UserProfilePanel.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   useRelayAgentsQuery,
   useManagedAgentsQuery,
   usePersonasQuery,
+  useSetManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawnMutation,
   useSetManagedAgentStartOnAppLaunchMutation,
   useSetPersonaActiveMutation,
   useStartManagedAgentMutation,
@@ -244,6 +245,7 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
   const stopAgentMutation = useStopManagedAgentMutation();
   const deleteAgentMutation = useDeleteManagedAgentMutation();
   const startOnLaunchMutation = useSetManagedAgentStartOnAppLaunchMutation();
+  const disableLocalSpawnMutation = useSetManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawnMutation();
   const createPersonaMutation = useCreatePersonaMutation();
   const updatePersonaMutation = useUpdatePersonaMutation();
   const deletePersonaMutation = useDeletePersonaMutation();
@@ -502,6 +504,28 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
     }
   }, [managedAgent, startOnLaunchMutation.mutateAsync]);
 
+  const handleToggleDisableLocalSpawn = React.useCallback(async () => {
+    if (managedAgent?.backend.type !== "local") return;
+
+    try {
+      const updated = await disableLocalSpawnMutation.mutateAsync({
+        pubkey: managedAgent.pubkey,
+        disableLocalSpawn: !managedAgent.disableLocalSpawn,
+      });
+      toast.success(
+        updated.disableLocalSpawn
+          ? `${updated.name} will not spawn locally — remote runtime owns it.`
+          : `${updated.name} will spawn locally on Desktop again.`,
+      );
+    } catch (error) {
+      toast.error(
+        error instanceof Error
+          ? error.message
+          : "Failed to update spawn preference.",
+      );
+    }
+  }, [managedAgent, disableLocalSpawnMutation.mutateAsync]);
+
   const handleDeleteAgent = React.useCallback(async () => {
     if (!managedAgent) return;
 
@@ -729,6 +753,7 @@ export function UserProfilePanel({
       onDuplicatePersona={handleDuplicatePersona}
       onExportPersona={handleExportPersona}
       onToggleAutoStart={handleToggleAgentAutoStart}
+      onToggleDisableLocalSpawn={handleToggleDisableLocalSpawn}
       personaActionKey={resolvedPersona?.id}
       viewerIsOwner={viewerIsOwner}
     />
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/tauri.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/tauri.ts
index b4f0df6fc09..dd13ebca955 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/tauri.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/tauri.ts
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ export type RawManagedAgent = {
   last_error_code: number | null;
   log_path: string;
   start_on_app_launch: boolean;
+  disable_local_spawn?: boolean;
   auto_restart_on_config_change?: boolean;
   backend: ManagedAgentBackend;
   backend_agent_id: string | null;
@@ -668,6 +669,7 @@ export function fromRawManagedAgent(agent: RawManagedAgent): ManagedAgent {
     lastErrorCode: agent.last_error_code ?? null,
     logPath: agent.log_path,
     startOnAppLaunch: agent.start_on_app_launch,
+    disableLocalSpawn: agent.disable_local_spawn ?? false,
     autoRestartOnConfigChange: agent.auto_restart_on_config_change ?? true,
     backend: agent.backend,
     backendAgentId: agent.backend_agent_id,
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/tauriManagedAgents.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/tauriManagedAgents.ts
index 9f77566da99..d62f872a902 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/tauriManagedAgents.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/tauriManagedAgents.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,20 @@ export async function setManagedAgentStartOnAppLaunch(
   return fromRawManagedAgent(response);
 }
 
+export async function setManagedAgentDisableLocalSpawn(
+  pubkey: string,
+  disableLocalSpawn: boolean,
+): Promise<ManagedAgent> {
+  const response = await invokeTauri<RawManagedAgent>(
+    "set_managed_agent_disable_local_spawn",
+    {
+      pubkey,
+      disableLocalSpawn,
+    },
+  );
+  return fromRawManagedAgent(response);
+}
+
 export async function setManagedAgentAutoRestart(
   pubkey: string,
   autoRestartOnConfigChange: boolean,
diff --git a/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts b/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
index d1e624ad530..58614150d99 100644
--- a/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/shared/api/types.ts
@@ -361,6 +361,8 @@ export type ManagedAgent = {
   lastErrorCode: number | null;
   logPath: string;
   startOnAppLaunch: boolean;
+  /** When true, Desktop never spawns a local process for this agent — neither at boot nor on reactive triggers. */
+  disableLocalSpawn: boolean;
   autoRestartOnConfigChange: boolean;
   backend: ManagedAgentBackend;
   backendAgentId: string | null;