diff --git a/cortex/routers/chat.py b/cortex/routers/chat.py
index 69291e8..9650fe5 100644
--- a/cortex/routers/chat.py
+++ b/cortex/routers/chat.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ class ChatRequest(BaseModel):
     include_long: bool = True
     include_mid: bool = True
     include_short: bool = True
+    off_record: bool = False  # skip session log (in-memory context preserved)
     user: str = "scott"
     persona: str = "inara"
 
@@ -92,7 +93,8 @@ async def _stream_chat(req: ChatRequest):
             response_text, actual_backend = task.result()
             history.append({"role": "assistant", "content": response_text})
             save_session(session_id, history)
-            log_turn(session_id, req.message, response_text)
+            if not req.off_record:
+                log_turn(session_id, req.message, response_text)
 
             requested = req.model or settings.primary_backend
             payload = {
diff --git a/cortex/static/app.js b/cortex/static/app.js
index 6181d12..dc134db 100644
--- a/cortex/static/app.js
+++ b/cortex/static/app.js
@@ -80,11 +80,35 @@
 
         agentModeBtnEl.addEventListener('click', () => {
             agentMode = !agentMode;
+            if (agentMode) { otr_mode = false; update_otr_ui(); }
             localStorage.setItem('agentMode', agentMode);
             updateAgentModeUI();
             inputEl.focus();
         });
 
+        // ── Off the record mode ──────────────────────────────────────
+        let otr_mode = false;
+        const otr_btn_el = document.getElementById('otr-btn');
+
+        function update_otr_ui() {
+            otr_btn_el.classList.toggle('active', otr_mode);
+            inputEl.classList.toggle('otr-mode', otr_mode);
+            updateInputPlaceholder();
+        }
+
+        otr_btn_el.addEventListener('click', () => {
+            otr_mode = !otr_mode;
+            if (otr_mode) {
+                agentMode = false;
+                noteMode = false;
+                localStorage.setItem('agentMode', false);
+                updateAgentModeUI();
+                updateInputMode();
+            }
+            update_otr_ui();
+            inputEl.focus();
+        });
+
         // ── Note mode ────────────────────────────────────────────────
         let noteMode   = false;
         let notePublic = false;
@@ -124,6 +148,8 @@
                 inputEl.placeholder = ctrlEnterMode
                     ? `Task for ${personaLabel}… (Gemini tool loop — Ctrl+Enter to run)`
                     : `Task for ${personaLabel}… (Gemini tool loop)`;
+            } else if (otr_mode) {
+                inputEl.placeholder = `Off the record — not logged or distilled…`;
             } else {
                 inputEl.placeholder = ctrlEnterMode
                     ? `Message ${personaLabel}… (Ctrl+Enter to send)`
@@ -133,6 +159,7 @@
 
         noteBtnEl.addEventListener('click', () => {
             noteMode = !noteMode;
+            if (noteMode) { otr_mode = false; update_otr_ui(); }
             updateInputMode();
             inputEl.focus();
         });
@@ -690,6 +717,7 @@
                         include_long: memLong,
                         include_mid: memMid,
                         include_short: memShort,
+                        off_record: otr_mode,
                         user: CORTEX_USER,
                         persona: CORTEX_PERSONA,
                     }),
diff --git a/cortex/static/index.html b/cortex/static/index.html
index 6c52c50..b707335 100644
--- a/cortex/static/index.html
+++ b/cortex/static/index.html
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@
             <!-- Note mode controls -->
             <button id="note-type-btn">private</button>
             <button id="note-btn">Note</button>
+            <button id="otr-btn" title="Off the record — not logged or distilled into memory">OTR</button>
             <button id="agent-mode-btn" title="Agent mode — Gemini tool loop + Claude response">Agent</button>
             <button id="send">Send</button>
             <button id="stop">Stop</button>
diff --git a/cortex/static/style.css b/cortex/static/style.css
index 1536b8b..ed7f801 100644
--- a/cortex/static/style.css
+++ b/cortex/static/style.css
@@ -571,6 +571,27 @@
         #note-btn.active         { border-color: rgba(180, 130, 40, 0.6); color: #c9a84c; }
         #note-btn.active.public  { border-color: rgba(40, 170, 150, 0.6); color: #4abfb0; }
 
+        /* OTR button */
+        #otr-btn {
+            background: var(--bg);
+            border: 1px solid var(--border);
+            color: var(--muted);
+            border-radius: 8px;
+            padding: 8px 0;
+            cursor: pointer;
+            font-size: 0.85rem;
+            text-align: center;
+            transition: border-color 0.15s, color 0.15s;
+        }
+        #otr-btn:hover        { border-color: var(--muted); color: var(--text); }
+        #otr-btn.active       { border-color: rgba(120, 80, 160, 0.6); color: #a87fd4; }
+
+        /* OTR textarea styling */
+        #input.otr-mode {
+            border-color: rgba(120, 80, 160, 0.4);
+            background: rgba(120, 80, 160, 0.04);
+        }
+
         /* Send button */
         #send {
             background: var(--user-bg);