diff --git a/.changeset/quiet-hosts-keep.md b/.changeset/quiet-hosts-keep.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..331d4dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/quiet-hosts-keep.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+---
+"@learningmap/learningmap": patch
+"@learningmap/web-component": patch
+---
+
+Respect `disableFileOperations` and `disablePersist` everywhere in the editor
+
+- The welcome screen no longer offers to open a file when file operations are disabled, and no longer says the data is stored in the browser when persistence is disabled
+- The save shortcut (Ctrl/⌘+S) no longer downloads a copy when file operations are disabled; the keystroke is left to the host page
+- The editor web component accepts `disable-persist`
diff --git a/packages/learningmap/src/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx b/packages/learningmap/src/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx
index 6cfa70d..564bacb 100644
--- a/packages/learningmap/src/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx
+++ b/packages/learningmap/src/KeyboardShortcuts.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ import { createNode, CreatableNodeType } from "./nodeFactory";
 interface KeyboardShortcutsProps {
   jsonStore?: string;
   keyBindings?: Partial<KeyBindings>;
+  /**
+   * The host keeps the file: the save shortcut does not download a copy and
+   * is left to the host instead.
+   */
+  disableFileOperations?: boolean;
 }
 
 // Default keybindings
@@ -62,7 +67,8 @@ const matchesKeyBinding = (e: KeyboardEvent, binding: KeyBinding | undefined): b
 
 export const KeyboardShortcuts = ({ 
   jsonStore = "https://json.openpatch.org",
-  keyBindings: customKeyBindings = {}
+  keyBindings: customKeyBindings = {},
+  disableFileOperations = false,
 }: KeyboardShortcutsProps) => {
   // Merge custom keybindings with defaults
   const keyBindings = { ...defaultKeyBindings, ...customKeyBindings };
@@ -246,6 +252,7 @@ export const KeyboardShortcuts = ({
         e.preventDefault();
         onAddNode("text");
       } else if (matchesKeyBinding(e, keyBindings.save)) {
+        if (disableFileOperations) return;
         e.preventDefault();
         onSave();
       } else if (matchesKeyBinding(e, keyBindings.undo)) {
diff --git a/packages/learningmap/src/LearningMapEditor.tsx b/packages/learningmap/src/LearningMapEditor.tsx
index 5c35f5a..112916d 100644
--- a/packages/learningmap/src/LearningMapEditor.tsx
+++ b/packages/learningmap/src/LearningMapEditor.tsx
@@ -82,7 +82,11 @@ export function LearningMapEditor({
   return (
     <>
       {/* Keyboard shortcuts handler */}
-      <KeyboardShortcuts jsonStore={jsonStore} keyBindings={keyBindings} />
+      <KeyboardShortcuts
+        jsonStore={jsonStore}
+        keyBindings={keyBindings}
+        disableFileOperations={disableFileOperations}
+      />
 
       {/* Toolbar */}
       <EditorToolbar disableSharing={disableSharing} disableFileOperations={disableFileOperations} />
@@ -94,7 +98,9 @@ export function LearningMapEditor({
       {previewMode && <LearningMap roadmapData={getRoadmapData()} />}
       {!previewMode && <>
         {/* Welcome message when empty */}
-        {nodes.length === 0 && edges.length === 0 && <WelcomeMessage />}
+        {nodes.length === 0 && edges.length === 0 && (
+          <WelcomeMessage disableFileOperations={disableFileOperations} disablePersist={disablePersist} />
+        )}
 
         {/* Main canvas */}
         <EditorCanvas />
diff --git a/packages/learningmap/src/WelcomeMessage.tsx b/packages/learningmap/src/WelcomeMessage.tsx
index c838b46..257e3f2 100644
--- a/packages/learningmap/src/WelcomeMessage.tsx
+++ b/packages/learningmap/src/WelcomeMessage.tsx
@@ -6,7 +6,17 @@ import logo from "./logo.svg";
 import { useFileOperations } from "./useFileOperations";
 import { createNode } from "./nodeFactory";
 
-export const WelcomeMessage: React.FC = () => {
+interface WelcomeMessageProps {
+  /** The host keeps the file, so there is nothing to open here. */
+  disableFileOperations?: boolean;
+  /** Nothing is kept in the browser, so it should not say so. */
+  disablePersist?: boolean;
+}
+
+export const WelcomeMessage: React.FC<WelcomeMessageProps> = ({
+  disableFileOperations = false,
+  disablePersist = false,
+}) => {
   // Get state and actions from store
   const addNode = useEditorStore(state => state.addNode);
   const setHelpOpen = useEditorStore(state => state.setHelpOpen);
@@ -36,12 +46,14 @@ export const WelcomeMessage: React.FC = () => {
         <h1 className="welcome-title">
           <img src={logo} alt="Logo" className="welcome-logo" />
           {t.welcomeTitle}</h1>
-        <p className="welcome-subtitle">{t.welcomeSubtitle}</p>
+        {!disablePersist && <p className="welcome-subtitle">{t.welcomeSubtitle}</p>}
         <div className="welcome-actions">
-          <button onClick={openRoadmap} className="primary-button">
-            <FolderOpen size={18} />
-            {t.welcomeOpenFile}
-          </button>
+          {!disableFileOperations && (
+            <button onClick={openRoadmap} className="primary-button">
+              <FolderOpen size={18} />
+              {t.welcomeOpenFile}
+            </button>
+          )}
           <button onClick={onAddTopic} className="primary-button">
             <Plus size={18} />
             {t.welcomeAddTopic}
diff --git a/packages/web-component/src/index.ts b/packages/web-component/src/index.ts
index 0f5f00a..b9e7094 100644
--- a/packages/web-component/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/web-component/src/index.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ const LearningmapEditorWC = r2wc(LearningMapEditor, {
     jsonStore: "string",
     disableSharing: "boolean",
     disableFileOperations: "boolean",
+    disablePersist: "boolean",
     keyBindings: "json",
     onChange: "function",
   },