diff --git a/app/Livewire/Project/Shared/EnvironmentVariable/All.php b/app/Livewire/Project/Shared/EnvironmentVariable/All.php
index 4f4e67a388..8ffae393a7 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/Project/Shared/EnvironmentVariable/All.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/Project/Shared/EnvironmentVariable/All.php
@@ -987,27 +987,12 @@ class All extends Component
 
     private function formatEnvironmentVariables($variables)
     {
-        $hideValues = ! $this->canViewEnvironmentValues();
+        $canViewValues = $this->canViewEnvironmentValues();
 
         return $variables
             ->reject(fn ($item): bool => $this->isProtectedEnvironmentVariable($item->key))
-            ->map(function ($item) use ($hideValues) {
-                if ($hideValues) {
-                    return "$item->key=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
-                }
-                if ($item->is_shown_once) {
-                    return "$item->key=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
-                }
-                if ($item->is_multiline) {
-                    return "$item->key=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
-                }
-                $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($item->value);
-                if ($value === null) {
-                    return "$item->key=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
-                }
-
-                return "$item->key=$value";
-            })->join("\n");
+            ->map(fn ($item) => formatEnvVariableForDevView($item, $canViewValues))
+            ->join("\n");
     }
 
     public function switch()
@@ -1022,11 +1007,28 @@ class All extends Component
 
     public function submit($data = null)
     {
+        // Parse before the save, so that an invalid "# coolify:" line changes nothing and keeps the edited text.
         try {
             $this->authorize('manageEnvironment', $this->resource);
             $this->ensureEnvironmentVariablesLoaded();
             if ($data === null) {
-                $this->handleBulkSubmit();
+                $variables = $this->normalizeEnvironmentVariables(parseEnvDevView($this->variables, EnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS));
+                $previewVariables = [];
+                if ($this->showPreview) {
+                    try {
+                        $previewVariables = $this->normalizeEnvironmentVariables(parseEnvDevView($this->variablesPreview, EnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS));
+                    } catch (\InvalidArgumentException $e) {
+                        throw new \InvalidArgumentException('Preview deployments: '.$e->getMessage(), previous: $e);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            return handleError($e, $this);
+        }
+
+        try {
+            if ($data === null) {
+                $this->handleBulkSubmit($variables, $previewVariables);
             } else {
                 $this->handleSingleSubmit($data);
             }
@@ -1076,9 +1078,8 @@ class All extends Component
         }
     }
 
-    private function handleBulkSubmit()
+    private function handleBulkSubmit(array $variables, array $previewVariables)
     {
-        $variables = $this->normalizeEnvironmentVariables(parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variables));
         $changesMade = false;
         $errorOccurred = false;
 
@@ -1097,8 +1098,6 @@ class All extends Component
         }
 
         if ($this->showPreview) {
-            $previewVariables = $this->normalizeEnvironmentVariables(parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variablesPreview));
-
             // Try to delete removed preview variables
             $deletedPreviewCount = $this->deleteRemovedVariables(true, $previewVariables);
             if ($deletedPreviewCount > 0) {
@@ -1244,7 +1243,10 @@ class All extends Component
                         $changed = true;
                     }
 
-                    if ($changed) {
+                    // Flags change only when a "# coolify:" line sets them
+                    $found->fill($data['settings']);
+
+                    if ($changed || $found->isDirty()) {
                         $found->save();
                         $count++;
                     }
@@ -1255,6 +1257,7 @@ class All extends Component
                 $environment->value = $value;
                 $environment->comment = $comment; // Set comment from inline comment
                 $environment->is_multiline = false;
+                $environment->fill($data['settings']);
                 $environment->is_preview = $isPreview;
                 $environment->resourceable_id = $this->resource->id;
                 $environment->resourceable_type = $this->resource->getMorphClass();
diff --git a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Environment/Show.php b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Environment/Show.php
index f42820ba66..5e22376584 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Environment/Show.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Environment/Show.php
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ namespace App\Livewire\SharedVariables\Environment;
 use App\Livewire\Concerns\RemembersCanvasView;
 use App\Models\Application;
 use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Livewire\Component;
@@ -83,30 +84,21 @@ class Show extends Component
     {
         $canViewValues = auth()->user()?->isAdminOfTeam($this->project->team_id) ?? false;
 
-        return $variables->map(function ($item) use ($canViewValues) {
-            if (! $canViewValues) {
-                return "$item->key=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_shown_once) {
-                return "$item->key=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_multiline) {
-                return "$item->key=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-            $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($item->value);
-            if ($value === null) {
-                return "$item->key=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-
-            return "$item->key=$value";
-        })->join("\n");
+        return $variables->map(fn ($item) => formatEnvVariableForDevView($item, $canViewValues))->join("\n");
     }
 
     public function submit()
     {
+        // Parse before the save, so that an invalid "# coolify:" line changes nothing and keeps the edited text.
         try {
             $this->authorize('update', $this->environment);
-            $this->handleBulkSubmit();
+            $variables = parseEnvDevView($this->variables, SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS);
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            return handleError($e, $this);
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $this->handleBulkSubmit($variables);
             $this->getDevView();
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             return handleError($e, $this);
@@ -115,9 +107,8 @@ class Show extends Component
         }
     }
 
-    private function handleBulkSubmit()
+    private function handleBulkSubmit(array $variables)
     {
-        $variables = parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variables);
         $changesMade = false;
 
         DB::transaction(function () use ($variables, &$changesMade) {
@@ -165,6 +156,9 @@ class Show extends Component
                 if (! $found->is_shown_once && ! $found->is_multiline && formatEnvValueForDevView($found->value) !== null) {
                     if ($found->value !== $value) {
                         $found->value = $value;
+                    }
+                    $found->fill($data['settings']);
+                    if ($found->isDirty()) {
                         $found->save();
                         $count++;
                     }
@@ -175,6 +169,7 @@ class Show extends Component
                     'value' => $value,
                     'is_multiline' => false,
                     'is_literal' => false,
+                    ...$data['settings'],
                     'type' => 'environment',
                     'team_id' => $this->project->team_id,
                 ]);
diff --git a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Project/Show.php b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Project/Show.php
index a4c93cb557..b2973291ca 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Project/Show.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Project/Show.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace App\Livewire\SharedVariables\Project;
 
 use App\Livewire\Concerns\RemembersCanvasView;
 use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Livewire\Component;
@@ -81,30 +82,21 @@ class Show extends Component
     {
         $canViewValues = auth()->user()?->isAdminOfTeam($this->project->team_id) ?? false;
 
-        return $variables->map(function ($item) use ($canViewValues) {
-            if (! $canViewValues) {
-                return "$item->key=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_shown_once) {
-                return "$item->key=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_multiline) {
-                return "$item->key=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-            $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($item->value);
-            if ($value === null) {
-                return "$item->key=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-
-            return "$item->key=$value";
-        })->join("\n");
+        return $variables->map(fn ($item) => formatEnvVariableForDevView($item, $canViewValues))->join("\n");
     }
 
     public function submit()
     {
+        // Parse before the save, so that an invalid "# coolify:" line changes nothing and keeps the edited text.
         try {
             $this->authorize('update', $this->project);
-            $this->handleBulkSubmit();
+            $variables = parseEnvDevView($this->variables, SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS);
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            return handleError($e, $this);
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $this->handleBulkSubmit($variables);
             $this->getDevView();
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             return handleError($e, $this);
@@ -113,10 +105,8 @@ class Show extends Component
         }
     }
 
-    private function handleBulkSubmit()
+    private function handleBulkSubmit(array $variables)
     {
-        $variables = parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variables);
-
         $changesMade = DB::transaction(function () use ($variables) {
             // Delete removed variables
             $deletedCount = $this->deleteRemovedVariables($variables);
@@ -157,6 +147,9 @@ class Show extends Component
                 if (! $found->is_shown_once && ! $found->is_multiline && formatEnvValueForDevView($found->value) !== null) {
                     if ($found->value !== $value) {
                         $found->value = $value;
+                    }
+                    $found->fill($data['settings']);
+                    if ($found->isDirty()) {
                         $found->save();
                         $count++;
                     }
@@ -167,6 +160,7 @@ class Show extends Component
                     'value' => $value,
                     'is_multiline' => false,
                     'is_literal' => false,
+                    ...$data['settings'],
                     'type' => 'project',
                     'team_id' => $this->project->team_id,
                 ]);
diff --git a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Server/Show.php b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Server/Show.php
index 062ab60123..3c4d747e29 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Server/Show.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Server/Show.php
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ namespace App\Livewire\SharedVariables\Server;
 
 use App\Livewire\Concerns\RemembersCanvasView;
 use App\Models\Server;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
 use Livewire\Component;
@@ -82,30 +83,21 @@ class Show extends Component
     {
         $canViewValues = auth()->user()?->isAdminOfTeam($this->server->team_id) ?? false;
 
-        return $variables->map(function ($item) use ($canViewValues) {
-            if (! $canViewValues) {
-                return "$item->key=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_shown_once) {
-                return "$item->key=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_multiline) {
-                return "$item->key=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-            $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($item->value);
-            if ($value === null) {
-                return "$item->key=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-
-            return "$item->key=$value";
-        })->join("\n");
+        return $variables->map(fn ($item) => formatEnvVariableForDevView($item, $canViewValues))->join("\n");
     }
 
     public function submit()
     {
+        // Parse before the save, so that an invalid "# coolify:" line changes nothing and keeps the edited text.
         try {
             $this->authorize('update', $this->server);
-            $this->handleBulkSubmit();
+            $variables = parseEnvDevView($this->variables, SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS);
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            return handleError($e, $this);
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $this->handleBulkSubmit($variables);
             $this->getDevView();
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             return handleError($e, $this);
@@ -114,10 +106,8 @@ class Show extends Component
         }
     }
 
-    private function handleBulkSubmit()
+    private function handleBulkSubmit(array $variables)
     {
-        $variables = parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variables);
-
         $changesMade = DB::transaction(function () use ($variables) {
             // Delete removed variables
             $deletedCount = $this->deleteRemovedVariables($variables);
@@ -167,9 +157,12 @@ class Show extends Component
 
             if ($found) {
                 if (! $found->is_shown_once && ! $found->is_multiline && formatEnvValueForDevView($found->value) !== null) {
-                    if ($found->value !== $value || $found->comment !== $comment) {
+                    if ($found->value !== $value) {
                         $found->value = $value;
-                        $found->comment = $comment;
+                    }
+                    $found->comment = $comment;
+                    $found->fill($data['settings']);
+                    if ($found->isDirty()) {
                         $found->save();
                         $count++;
                     }
@@ -181,6 +174,7 @@ class Show extends Component
                     'comment' => $comment,
                     'is_multiline' => false,
                     'is_literal' => false,
+                    ...$data['settings'],
                     'type' => 'server',
                     'team_id' => $this->server->team_id,
                 ]);
diff --git a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Team/Index.php b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Team/Index.php
index adabb569a3..682cbeee18 100644
--- a/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Team/Index.php
+++ b/app/Livewire/SharedVariables/Team/Index.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace App\Livewire\SharedVariables\Team;
 
 use App\Livewire\Concerns\RemembersCanvasView;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
 use App\Models\Team;
 use Illuminate\Foundation\Auth\Access\AuthorizesRequests;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
@@ -75,30 +76,21 @@ class Index extends Component
     {
         $canViewValues = auth()->user()?->isAdminOfTeam($this->team->id) ?? false;
 
-        return $variables->map(function ($item) use ($canViewValues) {
-            if (! $canViewValues) {
-                return "$item->key=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_shown_once) {
-                return "$item->key=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
-            }
-            if ($item->is_multiline) {
-                return "$item->key=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-            $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($item->value);
-            if ($value === null) {
-                return "$item->key=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
-            }
-
-            return "$item->key=$value";
-        })->join("\n");
+        return $variables->map(fn ($item) => formatEnvVariableForDevView($item, $canViewValues))->join("\n");
     }
 
     public function submit()
     {
+        // Parse before the save, so that an invalid "# coolify:" line changes nothing and keeps the edited text.
         try {
             $this->authorize('update', $this->team);
-            $this->handleBulkSubmit();
+            $variables = parseEnvDevView($this->variables, SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS);
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            return handleError($e, $this);
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $this->handleBulkSubmit($variables);
             $this->getDevView();
         } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             return handleError($e, $this);
@@ -107,9 +99,8 @@ class Index extends Component
         }
     }
 
-    private function handleBulkSubmit()
+    private function handleBulkSubmit(array $variables)
     {
-        $variables = parseEnvFormatToArray($this->variables);
         $changesMade = false;
 
         DB::transaction(function () use ($variables, &$changesMade) {
@@ -156,6 +147,9 @@ class Index extends Component
                 if (! $found->is_shown_once && ! $found->is_multiline && formatEnvValueForDevView($found->value) !== null) {
                     if ($found->value !== $value) {
                         $found->value = $value;
+                    }
+                    $found->fill($data['settings']);
+                    if ($found->isDirty()) {
                         $found->save();
                         $count++;
                     }
@@ -166,6 +160,7 @@ class Index extends Component
                     'value' => $value,
                     'is_multiline' => false,
                     'is_literal' => false,
+                    ...$data['settings'],
                     'type' => 'team',
                     'team_id' => $this->team->id,
                 ]);
diff --git a/app/Models/EnvironmentVariable.php b/app/Models/EnvironmentVariable.php
index 4ef77a4f16..b40ca8ebb3 100644
--- a/app/Models/EnvironmentVariable.php
+++ b/app/Models/EnvironmentVariable.php
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ class EnvironmentVariable extends BaseModel
 {
     use Auditable;
 
+    /**
+     * Flags that a "# coolify:" line of the developer view can set, with their defaults.
+     *
+     * @var array<string, bool>
+     */
+    public const DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS = ['literal' => false, 'buildtime' => true, 'runtime' => true];
+
     public const BUILDPACK_CONTROL_VARIABLE_PREFIXES = ['NIXPACKS_', 'RAILPACK_'];
 
     /**
@@ -101,6 +108,7 @@ class EnvironmentVariable extends BaseModel
         'value' => 'encrypted',
         'preserve_compose_null' => 'boolean',
         'is_multiline' => 'boolean',
+        'is_literal' => 'boolean',
         'is_preview' => 'boolean',
         'is_runtime' => 'boolean',
         'is_buildtime' => 'boolean',
diff --git a/app/Models/SharedEnvironmentVariable.php b/app/Models/SharedEnvironmentVariable.php
index 086cc33e50..e0f40a4542 100644
--- a/app/Models/SharedEnvironmentVariable.php
+++ b/app/Models/SharedEnvironmentVariable.php
@@ -11,6 +11,14 @@ class SharedEnvironmentVariable extends Model
 {
     use Auditable;
 
+    /**
+     * Flags that a "# coolify:" line of the developer view can set, with their defaults.
+     * Shared variables have no buildtime or runtime flags.
+     *
+     * @var array<string, bool>
+     */
+    public const DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS = ['literal' => false];
+
     protected $fillable = [
         // Core identification
         'key',
@@ -40,6 +48,7 @@ class SharedEnvironmentVariable extends Model
     protected $casts = [
         'key' => 'string',
         'value' => 'encrypted',
+        'is_literal' => 'boolean',
     ];
 
     /**
diff --git a/bootstrap/helpers/shared.php b/bootstrap/helpers/shared.php
index b9d482a1f7..e5c460cee8 100644
--- a/bootstrap/helpers/shared.php
+++ b/bootstrap/helpers/shared.php
@@ -1284,6 +1284,97 @@ function formatEnvValueForDevView(?string $value): ?string
     return null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Format a variable for the developer view: its KEY=value line, with a "# coolify:" directive
+ * line above it when a flag is not its default. A variable that the view cannot edit gets a
+ * placeholder line and no directive.
+ */
+function formatEnvVariableForDevView(EnvironmentVariable|SharedEnvironmentVariable $variable, bool $canViewValue): string
+{
+    if (! $canViewValue) {
+        return "{$variable->key}=(Hidden, only admins can view)";
+    }
+    if ($variable->is_shown_once) {
+        return "{$variable->key}=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)";
+    }
+    if ($variable->is_multiline) {
+        return "{$variable->key}=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)";
+    }
+    $value = formatEnvValueForDevView($variable->value);
+    if ($value === null) {
+        return "{$variable->key}=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)";
+    }
+
+    $flags = [];
+    foreach ($variable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS as $flag => $default) {
+        if ((bool) $variable->{"is_{$flag}"} !== $default) {
+            $flags[] = $default ? "{$flag}=false" : $flag;
+        }
+    }
+    $line = "{$variable->key}={$value}";
+
+    return $flags === [] ? $line : '# coolify: '.implode(' ', $flags)."\n".$line;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse developer view text. Returns the result of parseEnvFormatToArray() with a 'settings'
+ * entry per key: the flags of the "# coolify:" line directly above the key line, as model
+ * attributes (for example ['is_literal' => true]). A key without a directive gets empty
+ * settings, so its current flags stay.
+ *
+ * @param  array<string, bool>  $flagDefaults  the allowed flags and their defaults
+ * @return array<string, array{value: string, comment: ?string, settings: array<string, bool>}>
+ *
+ * @throws InvalidArgumentException when a directive is not directly above a KEY=value line, or has an unknown flag or value
+ */
+function parseEnvDevView(?string $contents, array $flagDefaults): array
+{
+    $contents ??= '';
+    $settingsByKey = [];
+    $directive = null;
+    $directiveLine = 0;
+
+    foreach (explode("\n", $contents) as $index => $line) {
+        $isKeyLine = $line !== '' && ! str_starts_with($line, '#') && str_contains($line, '=');
+        if ($directive !== null && ! $isKeyLine) {
+            throw new InvalidArgumentException("Line {$directiveLine}: a \"# coolify:\" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.");
+        }
+
+        if ($isKeyLine) {
+            $settingsByKey[substr($line, 0, strpos($line, '='))] = $directive ?? [];
+            $directive = null;
+        } elseif (str_starts_with($line, '# coolify:')) {
+            $directiveLine = $index + 1;
+            $flags = preg_split('/\s+/', trim(substr($line, strlen('# coolify:'))), -1, PREG_SPLIT_NO_EMPTY);
+            if ($flags === []) {
+                throw new InvalidArgumentException("Line {$directiveLine}: the \"# coolify:\" line has no flags.");
+            }
+
+            $directive = [];
+            foreach ($flags as $flag) {
+                [$name, $value] = array_pad(explode('=', $flag, 2), 2, 'true');
+                if (! array_key_exists($name, $flagDefaults)) {
+                    throw new InvalidArgumentException("Line {$directiveLine}: unknown flag \"{$name}\". Allowed flags: ".implode(', ', array_keys($flagDefaults)).'.');
+                }
+                if ($value !== 'true' && $value !== 'false') {
+                    throw new InvalidArgumentException("Line {$directiveLine}: the value of \"{$name}\" must be true or false.");
+                }
+                $directive["is_{$name}"] = $value === 'true';
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    if ($directive !== null) {
+        throw new InvalidArgumentException("Line {$directiveLine}: a \"# coolify:\" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.");
+    }
+
+    $variables = parseEnvFormatToArray($contents);
+    foreach ($variables as $key => $data) {
+        $variables[$key]['settings'] = $settingsByKey[$key] ?? [];
+    }
+
+    return $variables;
+}
+
 /**
  * Extract inline comments from environment variables in raw docker-compose YAML.
  *
diff --git a/resources/views/components/shared-variables/editor.blade.php b/resources/views/components/shared-variables/editor.blade.php
index 2b2c13cb30..18ed216172 100644
--- a/resources/views/components/shared-variables/editor.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/components/shared-variables/editor.blade.php
@@ -156,8 +156,12 @@
                     @endforeach
                 </div>
             @endif
-            <form wire:submit="submit" class="p-4">
+            <form wire:submit="submit" class="flex flex-col gap-4 p-4">
                 <x-unsaved-bar action="submit" />
+                <x-callout type="info" title="Note">
+                    To make a variable literal, put <code class="font-mono"># coolify: literal</code> directly above
+                    its line. Without this line, the flag does not change.
+                </x-callout>
                 <x-forms.textarea canGate="update" :canResource="$resource" rows="20"
                     class="whitespace-pre-wrap" id="variables" wire:model="variables" monospace
                     :label="$variablesLabel" />
diff --git a/resources/views/livewire/project/shared/environment-variable/all.blade.php b/resources/views/livewire/project/shared/environment-variable/all.blade.php
index 4be445caba..8286bb3d79 100644
--- a/resources/views/livewire/project/shared/environment-variable/all.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/livewire/project/shared/environment-variable/all.blade.php
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@
                 @can('manageEnvironment', $resource)
                     <x-callout type="info" title="Note">
                         Inline comments with space before # (e.g., <code class="font-mono">KEY=value #comment</code>) are stripped.
+                        To set flags, put <code class="font-mono"># coolify: literal buildtime=false runtime=false</code>
+                        directly above a variable line. Without this line, the flags of a variable do not change.
                     </x-callout>
                     <x-forms.textarea rows="10" class="whitespace-pre-wrap font-sans" id="variables"
                         wire:model="variables" label="Production"></x-forms.textarea>
diff --git a/tests/Feature/EnvironmentVariableDevViewDirectiveTest.php b/tests/Feature/EnvironmentVariableDevViewDirectiveTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2a963edbef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Feature/EnvironmentVariableDevViewDirectiveTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Livewire\Project\Shared\EnvironmentVariable\All;
+use App\Livewire\SharedVariables\Team\Index;
+use App\Models\Application;
+use App\Models\Environment;
+use App\Models\EnvironmentVariable;
+use App\Models\InstanceSettings;
+use App\Models\Project;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
+use App\Models\Team;
+use App\Models\User;
+use Illuminate\Foundation\Testing\RefreshDatabase;
+use Livewire\Livewire;
+
+uses(RefreshDatabase::class);
+
+beforeEach(function () {
+    InstanceSettings::forceCreate(['id' => 0]);
+
+    $this->user = User::factory()->create();
+    $this->team = Team::factory()->create();
+    $this->team->members()->attach($this->user, ['role' => 'owner']);
+    $this->project = Project::factory()->create(['team_id' => $this->team->id]);
+    $this->environment = Environment::factory()->create(['project_id' => $this->project->id]);
+    $this->application = Application::factory()->create(['environment_id' => $this->environment->id]);
+    EnvironmentVariable::query()->delete();
+
+    $this->actingAs($this->user);
+    session(['currentTeam' => $this->team]);
+
+    $this->createVariable = fn (string $key, array $attributes = []) => EnvironmentVariable::create([
+        'key' => $key,
+        'value' => 'value',
+        'resourceable_type' => Application::class,
+        'resourceable_id' => $this->application->id,
+        ...$attributes,
+    ]);
+    $this->flags = fn (string $key) => $this->application->environment_variables()->where('key', $key)->firstOrFail()
+        ->only(['value', 'is_literal', 'is_buildtime', 'is_runtime']);
+    $this->devView = fn () => Livewire::test(All::class, ['resource' => $this->application])
+        ->call('loadEnvironmentVariables')
+        ->call('switch');
+});
+
+it('shows directives for non-default flags and keeps flags when saved without edits', function () {
+    ($this->createVariable)('CUSTOM', ['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false]);
+    ($this->createVariable)('PLAIN');
+
+    $component = ($this->devView)();
+
+    expect($component->get('variables'))->toBe("# coolify: literal buildtime=false\nCUSTOM=value\nPLAIN=value");
+
+    $component->call('submit')->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect(($this->flags)('CUSTOM'))->toBe(['value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => true])
+        ->and(($this->flags)('PLAIN'))->toBe(['value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]);
+});
+
+it('sets flags from an added directive and resets them with explicit values', function () {
+    ($this->createVariable)('A');
+    ($this->createVariable)('B', ['is_literal' => true, 'is_runtime' => false]);
+
+    ($this->devView)()
+        ->set('variables', "# coolify: literal\nA=value\n# coolify: literal=false runtime=true\nB=value")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect(($this->flags)('A'))->toBe(['value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true])
+        ->and(($this->flags)('B'))->toBe(['value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]);
+});
+
+it('keeps flags of existing variables when a plain env file without directives is saved', function () {
+    ($this->createVariable)('A', ['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => false]);
+
+    ($this->devView)()
+        ->set('variables', "A=changed\nNEW=new")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect(($this->flags)('A'))->toBe(['value' => 'changed', 'is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => false])
+        ->and(($this->flags)('NEW'))->toBe(['value' => 'new', 'is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]);
+});
+
+it('creates a new variable with the flags of its directive', function () {
+    ($this->devView)()
+        ->set('variables', "# coolify: literal buildtime=false\nNEW=new")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect(($this->flags)('NEW'))->toBe(['value' => 'new', 'is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => true]);
+});
+
+it('rejects an invalid directive, changes nothing, and keeps the text', function () {
+    ($this->createVariable)('A');
+    $text = "A=changed\nNEW=new\n# coolify: literal";
+
+    $component = ($this->devView)()
+        ->set('variables', $text)
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertDispatched('error', 'Line 3: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.');
+
+    expect($component->get('variables'))->toBe($text)
+        ->and($this->application->environment_variables()->pluck('value', 'key')->all())->toBe(['A' => 'value']);
+});
+
+it('ignores a directive above a locked variable', function () {
+    ($this->createVariable)('LOCKED', ['is_shown_once' => true]);
+
+    $component = ($this->devView)();
+    expect($component->get('variables'))->toBe('LOCKED=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)');
+
+    $component->set('variables', "# coolify: literal\nLOCKED=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect(($this->flags)('LOCKED'))->toBe(['value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]);
+});
+
+it('applies the literal directive to team shared variables and rejects buildtime', function () {
+    SharedEnvironmentVariable::create(['key' => 'A', 'value' => 'value', 'type' => 'team', 'team_id' => $this->team->id]);
+
+    $component = Livewire::test(Index::class)
+        ->call('switch')
+        ->set('variables', "# coolify: literal\nA=value\n# coolify: literal\nNEW=new")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertNotDispatched('error');
+
+    expect($this->team->environment_variables()->pluck('is_literal', 'key')->all())->toBe(['A' => true, 'NEW' => true])
+        ->and($component->get('variables'))->toBe("# coolify: literal\nA=value\n# coolify: literal\nNEW=new");
+
+    $component->set('variables', "# coolify: buildtime=false\nA=value")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertDispatched('error', 'Line 1: unknown flag "buildtime". Allowed flags: literal.');
+
+    expect($this->team->environment_variables()->count())->toBe(2);
+});
+
+it('names the preview text area in a directive error', function () {
+    expect($this->application->git_repository)->not->toBeEmpty();
+
+    ($this->devView)()
+        ->set('variablesPreview', "A=1\n# coolify: literal")
+        ->call('submit')
+        ->assertDispatched('error', 'Preview deployments: Line 2: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.');
+});
diff --git a/tests/Unit/EnvDevViewDirectiveTest.php b/tests/Unit/EnvDevViewDirectiveTest.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7c64ffa37b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Unit/EnvDevViewDirectiveTest.php
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+<?php
+
+use App\Models\EnvironmentVariable;
+use App\Models\SharedEnvironmentVariable;
+use Tests\TestCase;
+
+uses(TestCase::class);
+
+function devViewVariable(array $attributes): EnvironmentVariable
+{
+    return (new EnvironmentVariable)->forceFill(['key' => 'KEY', 'value' => 'value', ...$attributes]);
+}
+
+it('formats a directive line only for flags that are not their default', function (array $flags, string $expected) {
+    expect(formatEnvVariableForDevView(devViewVariable($flags), true))->toBe($expected);
+})->with([
+    'defaults' => [['is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true], 'KEY=value'],
+    'literal' => [['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true], "# coolify: literal\nKEY=value"],
+    'all non-default' => [['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => false], "# coolify: literal buildtime=false runtime=false\nKEY=value"],
+]);
+
+it('formats only the literal flag for shared variables', function () {
+    $variable = (new SharedEnvironmentVariable)->forceFill(['key' => 'KEY', 'value' => 'value', 'is_literal' => 1]);
+
+    expect(formatEnvVariableForDevView($variable, true))->toBe("# coolify: literal\nKEY=value");
+});
+
+it('formats no directive above placeholder lines', function (array $attributes, string $expected, bool $canViewValue = true) {
+    expect(formatEnvVariableForDevView(devViewVariable(['is_literal' => true, ...$attributes]), $canViewValue))->toBe($expected);
+})->with([
+    'hidden' => [[], 'KEY=(Hidden, only admins can view)', false],
+    'locked' => [['is_shown_once' => true], 'KEY=(Locked Secret, delete and add again to change)'],
+    'multiline' => [['is_multiline' => true], 'KEY=(Multiline environment variable, edit in normal view)'],
+    'both quote types' => [['value' => '\'"a" b\''], 'KEY=(Value cannot be shown in this view, edit in normal view)'],
+]);
+
+it('reads back the flags and values that it formats', function (string $value, array $flags) {
+    $text = formatEnvVariableForDevView(devViewVariable(['value' => $value, ...$flags]), true)
+        ."\n".formatEnvVariableForDevView(devViewVariable(['key' => 'OTHER', 'value' => 'x']), true);
+
+    $parsed = parseEnvDevView($text, EnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS);
+
+    expect($parsed['KEY']['value'])->toBe($value)
+        ->and([...$flags, ...$parsed['KEY']['settings']])->toBe($flags)
+        ->and($parsed['OTHER']['settings'])->toBe([]);
+})->with([
+    'plain' => 'plain',
+    'double quoted' => '"abc"',
+    'single quoted' => "'\$FOO'",
+    'hash' => 'value #not-a-comment',
+])->with([
+    'defaults' => [['is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]],
+    'literal' => [['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]],
+    'all non-default' => [['is_literal' => true, 'is_buildtime' => false, 'is_runtime' => false]],
+]);
+
+it('parses explicit and bare directive values', function () {
+    $parsed = parseEnvDevView(
+        "# coolify: literal=false buildtime runtime=true\nA=1   # a comment\n# other comment\nB=2",
+        EnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS,
+    );
+
+    expect($parsed)->toBe([
+        'A' => ['value' => '1', 'comment' => 'a comment', 'settings' => ['is_literal' => false, 'is_buildtime' => true, 'is_runtime' => true]],
+        'B' => ['value' => '2', 'comment' => null, 'settings' => []],
+    ]);
+});
+
+it('rejects invalid directives', function (string $text, string $message) {
+    expect(fn () => parseEnvDevView($text, EnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS))
+        ->toThrow(InvalidArgumentException::class, $message);
+})->with([
+    'last line' => ["A=1\n# coolify: literal", 'Line 2: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.'],
+    'blank line before key' => ["# coolify: literal\n\nA=1", 'Line 1: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.'],
+    'comment before key' => ["# coolify: literal\n# note\nA=1", 'Line 1: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.'],
+    'two directives' => ["# coolify: literal\n# coolify: runtime=false\nA=1", 'Line 1: a "# coolify:" line must be directly above a KEY=value line.'],
+    'no flags' => ["# coolify:\nA=1", 'Line 1: the "# coolify:" line has no flags.'],
+    'unknown flag' => ["# coolify: multiline\nA=1", 'Line 1: unknown flag "multiline". Allowed flags: literal, buildtime, runtime.'],
+    'bad value' => ["# coolify: literal=yes\nA=1", 'Line 1: the value of "literal" must be true or false.'],
+]);
+
+it('accepts only the literal flag for shared variables', function () {
+    expect(parseEnvDevView("# coolify: literal\nA=1", SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS)['A']['settings'])->toBe(['is_literal' => true])
+        ->and(fn () => parseEnvDevView("# coolify: buildtime=false\nA=1", SharedEnvironmentVariable::DEV_VIEW_FLAG_DEFAULTS))
+        ->toThrow(InvalidArgumentException::class, 'Line 1: unknown flag "buildtime". Allowed flags: literal.');
+});
+
+it('keeps ignoring directive lines in parseEnvFormatToArray', function () {
+    expect(parseEnvFormatToArray("# coolify: literal\nA=1\n# coolify: bogus"))
+        ->toBe(['A' => ['value' => '1', 'comment' => null]]);
+});