diff --git a/src/lib/server/backups/helpers.ts b/src/lib/server/backups/helpers.ts
index 9aed2f7..5f8c240 100644
--- a/src/lib/server/backups/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/lib/server/backups/helpers.ts
@@ -503,6 +503,25 @@ export function retentionToStore(retention: any, schedule: unknown): string | nu
 	return scheduled ? JSON.stringify(DEFAULT_SCHEDULED_RETENTION) : null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Resolve the retention value to persist on a PARTIAL config update. `undefined` means
+ * "leave the stored retention untouched" (the caller must skip the field). A minimal PUT
+ * that only flips `enabled` (pause/resume) omits `retention`, so re-applying the scheduled
+ * default here would silently wipe the user's policy (#1462). The default is applied ONLY
+ * when the retention is actually provided, or when the schedule is being added/changed -
+ * the transition the default exists to cover.
+ */
+export function resolveRetentionForUpdate(
+	retention: unknown,
+	newSchedule: unknown,
+	existingSchedule: unknown
+): string | null | undefined {
+	const retentionProvided = retention !== undefined;
+	const scheduleChanged = newSchedule !== undefined && newSchedule !== existingSchedule;
+	if (!retentionProvided && !scheduleChanged) return undefined; // leave stored value as-is
+	return retentionToStore(retention, newSchedule ?? existingSchedule);
+}
+
 /**
  * Decide the `enabled` flag when a backup config is updated. A "run once" backup persists a
  * MANUAL, paused config (schedule=null, enabled=false); adding a cron schedule later should make
diff --git a/src/routes/api/backup/configs/[id]/+server.ts b/src/routes/api/backup/configs/[id]/+server.ts
index aa6ec3f..2a80ea5 100644
--- a/src/routes/api/backup/configs/[id]/+server.ts
+++ b/src/routes/api/backup/configs/[id]/+server.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from '$lib/server/db';
 import { registerSchedule, unregisterSchedule, isValidCron } from '$lib/server/scheduler';
 import { isBackupRunning } from '$lib/server/backups';
-import { validateRetention, retentionToStore, resolveEnabledOnScheduleChange } from '$lib/server/backups/helpers';
+import { validateRetention, resolveRetentionForUpdate, resolveEnabledOnScheduleChange } from '$lib/server/backups/helpers';
 import { requireBackups, loadConfigGateEnv } from '$lib/server/backups/route-guards';
 
 /**
@@ -99,11 +99,11 @@ export const PUT: RequestHandler = async (event) => {
 			selectedVolumes: body.selectedVolumes ? JSON.stringify(body.selectedVolumes) : body.selectedVolumes,
 			stopBeforeBackup: body.stopBeforeBackup,
 			schedule: body.schedule,
-			// Apply the default scheduled retention the same way create does, so a
-			// config edited to add a schedule with no explicit retention doesn't end
-			// up with pruning disabled and an unbounded-growth repo. Uses the effective
-			// schedule (the incoming one, or the existing one if unchanged).
-			retention: retentionToStore(body.retention, body.schedule ?? existing.schedule),
+			// Leave the stored retention untouched when the client didn't send it and the
+			// schedule isn't changing - a minimal pause/resume PUT (only `enabled`) must not
+			// wipe the user's policy (#1462). The scheduled default is still applied when
+			// retention is provided or a schedule is being added/changed.
+			retention: resolveRetentionForUpdate(body.retention, body.schedule, existing.schedule),
 			options: body.options ? JSON.stringify(body.options) : body.options,
 			tags: body.tags ? JSON.stringify(body.tags) : body.tags
 		});
diff --git a/tests/backup-helpers.test.ts b/tests/backup-helpers.test.ts
index c46a41b..a355d11 100644
--- a/tests/backup-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/tests/backup-helpers.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
 	isRepoNotInitializedError,
 	wouldDeleteAllSnapshots,
 	retentionToStore,
+	resolveRetentionForUpdate,
 	validateFlags,
 	validatePolicySchedules,
 	validateRetention,
@@ -691,6 +692,43 @@ describe('retentionToStore', () => {
 	});
 });
 
+// ============================================================================
+// resolveRetentionForUpdate: partial-update guard. A minimal PUT that omits
+// retention (e.g. pause/resume, which only sends `enabled`) must NOT re-apply
+// the scheduled default and wipe the stored policy (#1462).
+// ============================================================================
+describe('resolveRetentionForUpdate', () => {
+	const SCHED = '0 4 * * *';
+	test('retention omitted and schedule unchanged -> undefined (leave stored value as-is)', () => {
+		// The pause/resume case: body has no retention, schedule not in the body.
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate(undefined, undefined, SCHED)).toBeUndefined();
+	});
+	test('retention omitted but the SAME schedule resent -> still leaves it alone', () => {
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate(undefined, SCHED, SCHED)).toBeUndefined();
+	});
+	test('an explicit retention is stored verbatim', () => {
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate({ keepYearly: 3 }, undefined, SCHED)).toBe(
+			JSON.stringify({ keepYearly: 3 })
+		);
+	});
+	test('adding a schedule with no retention applies the scheduled default', () => {
+		// none -> cron transition: the default-injection the helper exists for.
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate(undefined, SCHED, null)).toBe(
+			JSON.stringify({ keepDaily: 7, keepWeekly: 4, keepMonthly: 6 })
+		);
+	});
+	test('clearing to all-zero on a SCHEDULED config falls back to the default (no unbounded growth)', () => {
+		// retention is provided (so not skipped), but empty; with a schedule present the
+		// scheduled default applies rather than storing "no policy".
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate({ keepLast: 0 }, undefined, SCHED)).toBe(
+			JSON.stringify({ keepDaily: 7, keepWeekly: 4, keepMonthly: 6 })
+		);
+	});
+	test('clearing to all-zero on an UNSCHEDULED config stores null', () => {
+		expect(resolveRetentionForUpdate({ keepLast: 0 }, undefined, null)).toBeNull();
+	});
+});
+
 // ============================================================================
 // validateFlags: save-time wrapper over sanitizeResticFlags — surfaces the
 // throw as an error string (or null when the flags are acceptable / absent).