diff --git a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.test.mjs
index a7feaac8e..17d1a8155 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.test.mjs
@@ -425,6 +425,43 @@ test("manager_builds_correct_filter_for_owner_p", async () => {
   mgr.destroy();
 });
 
+test("manager_metric_kill_switch_filters_only_kind_44200", async () => {
+  const relay = makeFakeRelayClient();
+  const archive = makeFakeArchive();
+  archive.setSubs([
+    {
+      scopeType: "owner_p",
+      scopeValue: "mixed",
+      kinds: [24200, 44200, 9],
+      identityPubkey: "pk",
+      relayUrl: "wss://r",
+      createdAt: 0,
+    },
+    {
+      scopeType: "owner_p",
+      scopeValue: "metric-only",
+      kinds: [44200],
+      identityPubkey: "pk",
+      relayUrl: "wss://r",
+      createdAt: 0,
+    },
+  ]);
+
+  const mgr = makeManager(relay, archive, {
+    disableAgentMetricArchive: true,
+  });
+  await mgr.start();
+  await tick();
+
+  const activeFilters = [...relay.subs.values()]
+    .filter((entry) => !entry.unsubbed)
+    .map((entry) => entry.filter);
+  assert.deepEqual(activeFilters, [
+    { kinds: [24200, 9], limit: 0, "#p": ["mixed"] },
+  ]);
+  mgr.destroy();
+});
+
 test("manager_forwards_events_to_archive_events_on_flush", async () => {
   const relay = makeFakeRelayClient();
   const archive = makeFakeArchive();
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.ts b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.ts
index 3672989a7..3684afb76 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/archiveSyncManager.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { relayClient as defaultRelayClient } from "@/shared/api/relayClient";
 import type { RelaySubscriptionFilter } from "@/shared/api/relayClientShared";
 import type { RelayEvent } from "@/shared/api/types";
+import { KIND_AGENT_TURN_METRIC } from "@/shared/constants/kinds";
 import {
   archiveEvents as defaultArchiveEvents,
   listSaveSubscriptions as defaultListSaveSubscriptions,
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ import {
 
 const FLUSH_BATCH_SIZE = 25;
 const FLUSH_IDLE_MS = 2_000;
+const DISABLE_AGENT_METRIC_ARCHIVE =
+  import.meta.env?.VITE_BUZZ_DISABLE_AGENT_METRIC_ARCHIVE === "1";
 
 // ── Types ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -34,6 +37,7 @@ export interface ArchiveSyncDeps {
     }>,
   ) => Promise<ArchiveBatchResult>;
   onSubscriptionChange: (listener: () => void) => () => void;
+  disableAgentMetricArchive?: boolean;
   flushBatchSize?: number;
   flushIdleMs?: number;
 }
@@ -81,8 +85,12 @@ function scopeKey(scopeType: ScopeType, scopeValue: string): string {
  */
 export class ArchiveSyncManager {
   private readonly deps: Required<
-    Omit<ArchiveSyncDeps, "flushBatchSize" | "flushIdleMs">
+    Omit<
+      ArchiveSyncDeps,
+      "disableAgentMetricArchive" | "flushBatchSize" | "flushIdleMs"
+    >
   >;
+  private readonly disableAgentMetricArchive: boolean;
   private readonly flushBatchSize: number;
   private readonly flushIdleMs: number;
 
@@ -112,6 +120,8 @@ export class ArchiveSyncManager {
       onSubscriptionChange:
         deps?.onSubscriptionChange ?? defaultOnSubscriptionChange,
     };
+    this.disableAgentMetricArchive =
+      deps?.disableAgentMetricArchive ?? DISABLE_AGENT_METRIC_ARCHIVE;
     this.flushBatchSize = deps?.flushBatchSize ?? FLUSH_BATCH_SIZE;
     this.flushIdleMs = deps?.flushIdleMs ?? FLUSH_IDLE_MS;
   }
@@ -202,6 +212,15 @@ export class ArchiveSyncManager {
 
     if (this.destroyed) return;
 
+    if (this.disableAgentMetricArchive) {
+      subs = subs.flatMap((sub) => {
+        const kinds = sub.kinds.filter(
+          (kind) => kind !== KIND_AGENT_TURN_METRIC,
+        );
+        return kinds.length > 0 ? [{ ...sub, kinds }] : [];
+      });
+    }
+
     // Full keys (scope+kinds) for the current subscription list.
     const wanted = new Set(
       subs.map((s) => subKey(s.scopeType, s.scopeValue, s.kinds)),
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.test.mjs b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.test.mjs
index e19b80a7f..f83761ba9 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.test.mjs
+++ b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.test.mjs
@@ -10,11 +10,16 @@ import test from "node:test";
 
 // ── Fake deps factory ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-function makeDeps({ hasExplicitChoice = false, mergeShouldFail = false } = {}) {
+function makeDeps({
+  hasExplicitChoice = false,
+  mergeShouldFail = false,
+  disableAgentMetricArchive = false,
+} = {}) {
   const calls = { mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds: [], setExplicitChoice: [] };
 
   return {
     calls,
+    disableAgentMetricArchive,
     mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds: async (kind) => {
       if (mergeShouldFail) throw new Error("merge failed");
       calls.mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds.push({ kind });
@@ -31,7 +36,7 @@ function makeDeps({ hasExplicitChoice = false, mergeShouldFail = false } = {}) {
 const KIND_AGENT_TURN_METRIC = 44200;
 
 async function runSeed(pubkey, deps) {
-  if (!pubkey) return;
+  if (!pubkey || deps.disableAgentMetricArchive) return;
   if (deps.hasExplicitChoice(pubkey)) return;
 
   try {
@@ -71,6 +76,14 @@ test("test_default_enabled_persists_explicit_choice_after_seed", async () => {
   assert.equal(deps.calls.setExplicitChoice[0].enabled, true);
 });
 
+test("test_kill_switch_does_not_seed_or_persist_choice", async () => {
+  const deps = makeDeps({ disableAgentMetricArchive: true });
+  await runSeed("pubkey123", deps);
+
+  assert.equal(deps.calls.mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds.length, 0);
+  assert.equal(deps.calls.setExplicitChoice.length, 0);
+});
+
 test("test_explicit_choice_set_does_not_reseed", async () => {
   const deps = makeDeps({ hasExplicitChoice: true });
   await runSeed("pubkey123", deps);
diff --git a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.ts b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.ts
index 2cadaa260..41cf81d29 100644
--- a/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.ts
+++ b/desktop/src/features/local-archive/useAgentMetricArchiveSeed.ts
@@ -30,12 +30,15 @@ export interface AgentMetricArchiveSeedDeps {
   mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds: (kind: number) => Promise<void>;
   hasExplicitChoice: (pubkey: string) => boolean;
   setExplicitChoice: (pubkey: string, enabled: boolean) => void;
+  disableAgentMetricArchive: boolean;
 }
 
 const defaultDeps: AgentMetricArchiveSeedDeps = {
   mergeSaveSubscriptionKinds,
   hasExplicitChoice: hasExplicitAgentMetricArchiveChoice,
   setExplicitChoice: setExplicitAgentMetricArchiveChoice,
+  disableAgentMetricArchive:
+    import.meta.env?.VITE_BUZZ_DISABLE_AGENT_METRIC_ARCHIVE === "1",
 };
 
 /**
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ export function useAgentMetricArchiveSeed(
   deps: AgentMetricArchiveSeedDeps = defaultDeps,
 ): void {
   React.useEffect(() => {
-    if (!pubkey) return;
+    if (!pubkey || deps.disableAgentMetricArchive) return;
 
     // Already made an explicit choice for this identity — never re-seed.
     if (deps.hasExplicitChoice(pubkey)) return;