diff --git a/src/hooks/useDeviceStatusStreams.ts b/src/hooks/useDeviceStatusStreams.ts
index 24ca8bb..5c38058 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useDeviceStatusStreams.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useDeviceStatusStreams.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import { pond } from "protobuf-ts/pond";
 import { useEffect, useRef, useCallback, useMemo } from "react";
 
+/** Off by default to reduce server load; set VITE_ENABLE_WEBSOCKETS=true to enable live streams. */
+const WEBSOCKETS_ENABLED = import.meta.env.VITE_ENABLE_WEBSOCKETS === "true";
+
 /**
  * Derives the WebSocket base URL from VITE_APP_API_URL.
  * Matches the logic in useWebSocket.ts.
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ export function useDeviceStatusStreams(options: UseDeviceStatusStreamsOptions) {
   );
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!enabled || !token || deviceIds.length === 0) {
+    if (!WEBSOCKETS_ENABLED || !enabled || !token || deviceIds.length === 0) {
       wsMapRef.current.forEach((ws) => ws.close(1000, "disabled"));
       wsMapRef.current.clear();
       reconnectTimeoutsRef.current.forEach((t) => clearTimeout(t));
diff --git a/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts b/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
index 6a4029d..ff6092c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useWebSocket.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useCallback } from "react";
 
+/** Off by default to reduce server load; set VITE_ENABLE_WEBSOCKETS=true to enable live streams. */
+const WEBSOCKETS_ENABLED = import.meta.env.VITE_ENABLE_WEBSOCKETS === "true";
+
 /**
  * Derives the WebSocket base URL from VITE_APP_API_URL.
  * e.g. "https://api.brandxtech.ca" -> "wss://api.brandxtech.ca"
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ export function useWebSocket<T>(options: UseWebSocketOptions<T>) {
   }, [path, token, rate]);
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!enabled || !token) {
+    if (!WEBSOCKETS_ENABLED || !enabled || !token) {
       if (wsRef.current) {
         wsRef.current.close(1000, "disabled");
         wsRef.current = null;