diff --git a/docs/solo/messages.md b/docs/solo/messages.md
index 27c6f0cc..d572696a 100644
--- a/docs/solo/messages.md
+++ b/docs/solo/messages.md
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ correctly whatever the keyboard is set to.
 | Mark all read | Clears its unread count |
 | Notif, Melody | Its own notification and sound, instead of the global ones |
 | Fav | Marks it as a favourite (shared with the app) |
+| Save | Wio Tracker L1, with Keep messages on: whether its new messages go on the flash. Off for a busy channel you only read live, so it leaves the room to the others; what's already saved stays until the limit or Delete after removes it |
 | Scope | The region its messages are tagged with: **Default** follows the list's default, `*` sends none; the list is in Settings › Radio › Scope |
 | Pin to dial | Puts it on the Favourites page |
 | Edit, Delete | Renames it or changes its secret; removes it |
diff --git a/docs/solo/settings.md b/docs/solo/settings.md
index cec247ef..87745609 100644
--- a/docs/solo/settings.md
+++ b/docs/solo/settings.md
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ A few notes:
 - **Keep messages** (Wio Tracker L1) saves messages on the flash, across a
   power-off and past what fits in memory (see
   [How much is kept](./messages.md#how-much-is-kept)): **Off**, 500, 1000 or
-  2500 in total. When the limit is reached the oldest go, in batches. Setting
-  it to Off deletes what was saved.
+  2500 in total. When the limit is reached the oldest go, in batches. **Off**
+  stops saving at once and deletes what was saved at the next start, so turn it
+  back on before then to keep it. **Delete history** deletes right away.
 - **Delete after** (Wio Tracker L1) removes saved messages older than 7, 30 or
   90 days, or **Never**. They go in batches too, so some stay a little longer,
   and nothing goes while the clock isn't set.
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
index b3e9460f..eaec6168 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h
@@ -336,6 +336,9 @@ struct NodePrefsFields {
   // Settings > Messages > Delete after: messages older than this go, from the
   // list at once (index into contactExpiryDays(); 0 = never).
   uint8_t  msg_expire;
+  // Channel options > Save: bit i = channel i isn't kept on flash, for one too
+  // busy to be worth the room [del→onChannelRemoved]
+  uint64_t ch_no_save;
   // ui-new's new-message alert: the banner from the top, an envelope with a
   // count in the corner, or nothing (the sound and the wake still happen).
   static const uint8_t MSG_ALERT_NORMAL = 0, MSG_ALERT_COMPACT = 1, MSG_ALERT_OFF = 2;
@@ -904,6 +907,7 @@ class NodePrefs : public NodePrefsFields, public ConfigSerializer {
     s.hex("ch_fav", ch_fav_bitmask); s.def("ch_fav_only", ch_fav_only);
     s.hex("favs", favourite_contacts); s.hex("fav_kinds", favourite_kinds);
     s.def("fav_sort", fav_sort); s.def("expiry", contact_expiry_idx); s.def("msg_keep", msg_keep); s.def("msg_expire", msg_expire);
+    s.hex("ch_no_save", ch_no_save);
   }
   void gpioSolo(Section& s) {
     s.def("m1", gpio1_mode); s.def("m2", gpio2_mode); s.def("m3", gpio3_mode); s.def("m4", gpio4_mode);
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/ChannelControl.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/ChannelControl.h
index fa4801b7..daf8f674 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/ChannelControl.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/ChannelControl.h
@@ -259,6 +259,13 @@ static void setFavourite(NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx, bool on) {
   if (on) p->ch_fav_bitmask |= 1ULL << idx; else p->ch_fav_bitmask &= ~(1ULL << idx);
 }
 
+// Whether new messages of this channel go to the flash log (HistoryLog.h).
+static bool saved(const NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx) { return !p || !(p->ch_no_save & (1ULL << idx)); }
+static void setSaved(NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx, bool on) {
+  if (!p) return;
+  if (on) p->ch_no_save &= ~(1ULL << idx); else p->ch_no_save |= 1ULL << idx;
+}
+
 // Scope as a picker row: 0 = Default (follow the list's default), then the
 // list itself from 1 ("*" = unscoped, then the named entries).
 static uint8_t scope(const NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx) {
@@ -274,8 +281,8 @@ static uint8_t scopeFromRow(int row) {
 // here, so a channel re-added at a freed slot can't inherit the old one's
 // settings. Adding such a field: clear it below (and mark it in NodePrefs.h).
 // Covers bot_channel_idx, loc_share_channel_idx, ch_notif_melody_*,
-// ch_notif_override / ch_notif_muted, ch_fav_bitmask, favourite dial slots,
-// ch_scope_idx. True when something changed (caller saves).
+// ch_notif_override / ch_notif_muted, ch_fav_bitmask, ch_no_save, favourite dial
+// slots, ch_scope_idx. True when something changed (caller saves).
 static bool onRemoved(NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx) {
   if (!p) return false;
   bool changed = false;
@@ -286,6 +293,7 @@ static bool onRemoved(NodePrefs* p, uint8_t idx) {
   if (p->ch_notif_melody_set & m) { p->ch_notif_melody_set &= ~m; p->ch_notif_melody_2 &= ~m; changed = true; }
   if (p->ch_notif_override & m)   { p->ch_notif_override &= ~m; p->ch_notif_muted &= ~m; changed = true; }
   if (p->ch_fav_bitmask & m)      { p->ch_fav_bitmask &= ~m; changed = true; }
+  if (p->ch_no_save & m)          { p->ch_no_save &= ~m; changed = true; }
   if (idx < NodePrefs::MAX_SCOPED_CHANNELS && p->ch_scope_idx[idx] != NodePrefs::CH_SCOPE_DEFAULT) {
     p->ch_scope_idx[idx] = NodePrefs::CH_SCOPE_DEFAULT;   // back to Default, as a new channel
     changed = true;
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/HistoryLog.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/HistoryLog.h
index 7eca47c2..192b1fe6 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/HistoryLog.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/HistoryLog.h
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@
 // A record: Rec, the path, the text, then its own total length as one byte, so
 // the log can be walked from the end. restore() fills the RAM rings from there.
 // A channel's messages carry channelKey(), so they follow the channel, not the
-// slot; those of a channel since deleted aren't restored.
+// slot; those of a channel since deleted aren't restored. A channel with Save
+// off (chanctl::saved()) stays out of the log from then on; what it has there
+// stays until it ages out.
 //
 // Older messages, past what the rings hold, are read a page at a time
 // (pageBegin*(), pageOlder(), pageNewer()): the messages screen measures its
@@ -54,6 +56,8 @@ public:
     if (_on) {
       scan();
       restore();
+    } else if (_fs && _fs->exists(ROOT)) {
+      forget();   // Keep messages off since the last start, see loop()
     }
     _next_prune = millis() + SAVE_DELAY_MS;
     history->setArchive(this);
@@ -61,8 +65,12 @@ public:
 
   // ── HistArchive ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   // arc_id orders the entries of this run; a restored one keeps 0, already saved.
-  void chAppend(ChHistEntry& e) override { e.arc_id = ++_seq; appended(); }
-  void chUpdate(const ChHistEntry&) override { touch(); }
+  void chAppend(ChHistEntry& e) override {
+    if (!chanctl::saved(_prefs, e.ch_idx)) { e.arc_id = NOT_SAVED; return; }
+    e.arc_id = ++_seq;
+    appended();
+  }
+  void chUpdate(const ChHistEntry& e) override { if (e.arc_id != NOT_SAVED) touch(); }
   void dmAppend(DmHistEntry& e) override { e.arc_id = ++_seq; appended(); }
   void dmUpdate(const DmHistEntry&) override { touch(); }
 
@@ -70,7 +78,9 @@ public:
     bool on = _fs && _prefs && _prefs->msg_keep;
     if (on != _on) {
       _on = on;
-      if (on) touch(); else forget();
+      // Off only stops the saving; begin() deletes the log, so a value stepped
+      // past on the way to another costs nothing, and the wait comes at a start.
+      if (on) touch(); else _dirty = false;
     }
     if (_dirty && (int32_t)(millis() - _due) >= 0) flush(false);
     if (_on && (int32_t)(millis() - _next_prune) >= 0) {
@@ -177,6 +187,9 @@ public:
 
 private:
   static constexpr const char* ROOT = "/h";
+  // arc_id of a message that stays in the ring: a channel with Save off. Above
+  // any _ch_done, so it never counts as in the log (pageBeginCh).
+  static const uint32_t NOT_SAVED = 0xFFFFFFFFUL;
 
   struct __attribute__((packed)) Rec {
     uint32_t key;         // channelKey(), or a DM's 4-byte public key prefix
@@ -250,7 +263,7 @@ private:
     uint32_t now = rtc_clock.getCurrentTime();
     for (int j = _history->chHistCount() - 1; j >= 0; j--) {
       const ChHistEntry& e = _history->chAtPos(_history->chHistPosNewest(j));
-      if (e.arc_id <= _ch_done) continue;
+      if (e.arc_id <= _ch_done || e.arc_id == NOT_SAVED) continue;
       if (!all && e.relay_status == ACK_PENDING && now - e.timestamp < SETTLE_SECS) { more = true; break; }
       ChannelDetails ch;
       if (the_mesh.getChannel(e.ch_idx, ch) && ch.name[0] &&
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/UiCore.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/UiCore.h
index 964c60c1..a0f77e6f 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/UiCore.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-core/UiCore.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 
 #include "MessageHistory.h"
 #ifdef HIST_FLASH
+#include "ChannelControl.h"   // chanctl::saved()
 #include "HistoryLog.h"
 #endif
 #include "DmUnreadTable.h"
diff --git a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/MessagesScreen.h b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/MessagesScreen.h
index 1f77b4c2..79aa19c1 100644
--- a/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/MessagesScreen.h
+++ b/examples/companion_radio/ui-new/MessagesScreen.h
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ class MessagesScreen : public UIScreen {
   char      _ctx_pin_item[28];   // "Pin to dial" or "Unpin (slot N)"
   char      _ctx_fav_item[12]; // "Fav: ON" / "Fav: OFF" — shared by the channel,
                                // contact and room menus (never open at once)
+  char      _ctx_save_item[12]; // "Save: ON" / "Save: OFF"
+  int       _ctx_save_idx = -1; // its row in the channel menu, -1 with nothing to save
   int       _ctx_fav_idx = -1; // row the Fav toggle sits on, frozen at menu open
   int       _ctx_pin_idx = -1; // ...and the Pin row, in the room menu (it sits after Fav,
                                // whose own row depends on whether Logout is shown)
@@ -985,6 +987,11 @@ class MessagesScreen : public UIScreen {
         snprintf(_ctx_fav_item, sizeof(_ctx_fav_item), is_fav ? "Fav: ON" : "Fav: OFF");
         _ctx_dirty = true;
       }
+    } else if (sel == _ctx_save_idx) {
+      bool on = !chanctl::saved(_task->getNodePrefs(), ch_idx);
+      chanctl::setSaved(_task->getNodePrefs(), ch_idx, on);
+      snprintf(_ctx_save_item, sizeof(_ctx_save_item), on ? "Save: ON" : "Save: OFF");
+      _ctx_dirty = true;
     }
   }
 
@@ -2365,6 +2372,7 @@ public:
         if (res == PopupMenu::SELECTED && _num_channels > 0) {
           uint8_t ch_idx = _ctx_ch_idx;   // frozen at menu open — see declaration
           int sel = _ctx_menu.selectedIndex();
+          if (_ctx_save_idx >= 0 && sel > _ctx_save_idx) sel--;   // the rows below count without it
           if (sel == 0) {
             int cleared = (int)_history.chUnread(ch_idx);
             _history.setChUnread(ch_idx, 0);
@@ -2465,6 +2473,15 @@ public:
         _ctx_menu.addValueItem(_ctx_melody_item);
         _ctx_fav_idx = 3;
         _ctx_menu.addValueItem(_ctx_fav_item);
+        _ctx_save_idx = -1;
+#ifdef HIST_FLASH
+        if (_task->getNodePrefs() && _task->getNodePrefs()->msg_keep) {   // only with the log on
+          snprintf(_ctx_save_item, sizeof(_ctx_save_item),
+                   chanctl::saved(_task->getNodePrefs(), ch_idx) ? "Save: ON" : "Save: OFF");
+          _ctx_save_idx = 4;
+          _ctx_menu.addValueItem(_ctx_save_item);
+        }
+#endif
         _ctx_menu.addItem(_ctx_scope_item);
         _ctx_menu.addItem(_ctx_pin_item);
         _ctx_menu.addItem("Edit");