diff --git a/backend/.env.example b/backend/.env.example
index 37b592d..69e54d9 100644
--- a/backend/.env.example
+++ b/backend/.env.example
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ LOCAL_DB_QUERY_TIMEOUT_MS=60000
 # 生产环境由部署脚本强制使用 /www/wwwroot/shujuku3/shared/image-search-secrets.json
 # 本地留空时使用 ~/.config/shujuku3/secrets.json
 SHUJUKU3_SECRET_STORE_PATH=
-# 生产环境默认开启；公司图搜或 1688 图搜凭据缺失时拒绝启动
+# 可选：设为 true 时要求公司图搜和 1688 图搜凭据齐全
 REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS=false
 # 系统库连接池建议保持小而稳，避免单个应用实例吃满 MySQL 连接
 LOCAL_DB_CONNECTION_LIMIT=6
diff --git a/backend/src/services/imageSearchCredentialGuard.js b/backend/src/services/imageSearchCredentialGuard.js
index bdda5d2..fa0007f 100644
--- a/backend/src/services/imageSearchCredentialGuard.js
+++ b/backend/src/services/imageSearchCredentialGuard.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const { getAlibaba1688ImageSearchRuntimeConfig } = require('./alibaba1688ImageSe
 const { getSimilarProductsRuntimeConfig } = require('./similarProductsSettings');
 
 function shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials() {
-  if (String(process.env.NODE_ENV || '').trim().toLowerCase() === 'production') return true;
+  // Image search is an optional integration in the PDD edition.
   const configured = String(process.env.REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS || '').trim().toLowerCase();
   return configured === 'true' || configured === '1';
 }
diff --git a/backend/test/imageSearchCredentialGuard.test.js b/backend/test/imageSearchCredentialGuard.test.js
index 35e3f21..cca5394 100644
--- a/backend/test/imageSearchCredentialGuard.test.js
+++ b/backend/test/imageSearchCredentialGuard.test.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
 
 const { shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials } = require('../src/services/imageSearchCredentialGuard');
 
-test('production requires persisted image-search credentials by default', (context) => {
+test('optional image search never blocks production unless explicitly required', (context) => {
   const previousNodeEnv = process.env.NODE_ENV;
   const previousRequirement = process.env.REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS;
   context.after(() => {
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ test('production requires persisted image-search credentials by default', (conte
 
   process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production';
   delete process.env.REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS;
-  assert.equal(shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials(), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials(), false);
   process.env.REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS = 'false';
-  assert.equal(shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials(), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldRequireImageSearchCredentials(), false);
 
   process.env.NODE_ENV = 'development';
   delete process.env.REQUIRE_PERSISTED_IMAGE_SEARCH_SECRETS;