diff --git a/platform/apps/external-secrets/application.yaml b/platform/apps/external-secrets/application.yaml
index ae1397d..1ed757b 100644
--- a/platform/apps/external-secrets/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/external-secrets/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: external-secrets
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - ServerSideApply=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/harbor/application.yaml b/platform/apps/harbor/application.yaml
index 26dad9f..62d86eb 100644
--- a/platform/apps/harbor/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/harbor/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: harbor
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - SkipDryRunOnMissingResource=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/headlamp/application.yaml b/platform/apps/headlamp/application.yaml
index cde6c41..7305c97 100644
--- a/platform/apps/headlamp/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/headlamp/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: headlamp
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - SkipDryRunOnMissingResource=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/jenkins/application.yaml b/platform/apps/jenkins/application.yaml
index bb741e9..d134127 100644
--- a/platform/apps/jenkins/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/jenkins/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: jenkins
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - SkipDryRunOnMissingResource=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/kube-prometheus-stack/application.yaml b/platform/apps/kube-prometheus-stack/application.yaml
index 31fe23a..6a39f86 100644
--- a/platform/apps/kube-prometheus-stack/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/kube-prometheus-stack/application.yaml
@@ -36,10 +36,8 @@ spec:
       jsonPointers:
         - /spec/rules/0/backendRefs/0/group
         - /spec/rules/0/backendRefs/0/weight
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - ServerSideApply=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/sonarqube/application.yaml b/platform/apps/sonarqube/application.yaml
index 0473c25..6521ab0 100644
--- a/platform/apps/sonarqube/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/sonarqube/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: sonarqube
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - SkipDryRunOnMissingResource=true
diff --git a/platform/apps/vault/application.yaml b/platform/apps/vault/application.yaml
index 4f6354e..2b626af 100644
--- a/platform/apps/vault/application.yaml
+++ b/platform/apps/vault/application.yaml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ spec:
   destination:
     server: https://kubernetes.default.svc
     namespace: vault
+  # Leaf app — manual sync only; root `platform` app-of-apps stays automated.
   syncPolicy:
-    automated:
-      prune: true
-      selfHeal: true
     syncOptions:
       - CreateNamespace=true
       - SkipDryRunOnMissingResource=true