diff --git a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/notes.tsx b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/notes.tsx
index 8bb19df6..ddcef8bf 100644
--- a/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/notes.tsx
+++ b/artifacts/tx-os/src/pages/notes.tsx
@@ -1884,14 +1884,14 @@ function ThreadDialog({
                 <ChecklistView
                   items={thread.items ?? []}
                   testIdPrefix={`thread-checklist-${thread.id}`}
-                  // Task #438: gate toggles to match server auth — the
-                  // owner, an admin, or an active (non-archived)
-                  // recipient can collaboratively check items. Archived
-                  // recipients see a read-only checklist (server would
-                  // 403 anyway).
+                  // Task #438: gate toggles to match server auth — only
+                  // the owner or an active (non-archived) recipient can
+                  // collaboratively check items. Admins viewing a note
+                  // they neither own nor were sent get a read-only
+                  // checklist (server returns 403 for them, so showing
+                  // a live checkbox would just produce a failed toggle).
                   onToggle={
                     thread.isOwner ||
-                    thread.isAdmin ||
                     (thread.myStatus !== null &&
                       thread.myStatus !== "archived")
                       ? (itemId, done) =>