diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2Properties.java b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2Properties.java
index a92536036..be1d13279 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2Properties.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2Properties.java
@@ -9,27 +9,39 @@
 public class OpenMetrics2Properties {
 
   private static final String PREFIX = "io.prometheus.openmetrics2";
+  private static final String ENABLED = "enabled";
   private static final String CONTENT_NEGOTIATION = "content_negotiation";
   private static final String COMPOSITE_VALUES = "composite_values";
   private static final String EXEMPLAR_COMPLIANCE = "exemplar_compliance";
   private static final String NATIVE_HISTOGRAMS = "native_histograms";
 
+  @Nullable private final Boolean enabled;
   @Nullable private final Boolean contentNegotiation;
   @Nullable private final Boolean compositeValues;
   @Nullable private final Boolean exemplarCompliance;
   @Nullable private final Boolean nativeHistograms;
 
   private OpenMetrics2Properties(
+      @Nullable Boolean enabled,
       @Nullable Boolean contentNegotiation,
       @Nullable Boolean compositeValues,
       @Nullable Boolean exemplarCompliance,
       @Nullable Boolean nativeHistograms) {
+    this.enabled = enabled;
     this.contentNegotiation = contentNegotiation;
     this.compositeValues = compositeValues;
     this.exemplarCompliance = exemplarCompliance;
     this.nativeHistograms = nativeHistograms;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Enable the OpenMetrics 2.0 text format writer. When {@code true}, the OM2 writer is used
+   * instead of OM1 for OpenMetrics responses. Default is {@code false}.
+   */
+  public boolean getEnabled() {
+    return enabled != null && enabled;
+  }
+
   /** Gate OM2 features behind content negotiation. Default is {@code false}. */
   public boolean getContentNegotiation() {
     return contentNegotiation != null && contentNegotiation;
@@ -56,12 +68,13 @@ public boolean getNativeHistograms() {
    */
   static OpenMetrics2Properties load(PropertySource propertySource)
       throws PrometheusPropertiesException {
+    Boolean enabled = Util.loadBoolean(PREFIX, ENABLED, propertySource);
     Boolean contentNegotiation = Util.loadBoolean(PREFIX, CONTENT_NEGOTIATION, propertySource);
     Boolean compositeValues = Util.loadBoolean(PREFIX, COMPOSITE_VALUES, propertySource);
     Boolean exemplarCompliance = Util.loadBoolean(PREFIX, EXEMPLAR_COMPLIANCE, propertySource);
     Boolean nativeHistograms = Util.loadBoolean(PREFIX, NATIVE_HISTOGRAMS, propertySource);
     return new OpenMetrics2Properties(
-        contentNegotiation, compositeValues, exemplarCompliance, nativeHistograms);
+        enabled, contentNegotiation, compositeValues, exemplarCompliance, nativeHistograms);
   }
 
   public static Builder builder() {
@@ -70,6 +83,7 @@ public static Builder builder() {
 
   public static class Builder {
 
+    @Nullable private Boolean enabled;
     @Nullable private Boolean contentNegotiation;
     @Nullable private Boolean compositeValues;
     @Nullable private Boolean exemplarCompliance;
@@ -77,6 +91,12 @@ public static class Builder {
 
     private Builder() {}
 
+    /** See {@link #getEnabled()} */
+    public Builder enabled(boolean enabled) {
+      this.enabled = enabled;
+      return this;
+    }
+
     /** See {@link #getContentNegotiation()} */
     public Builder contentNegotiation(boolean contentNegotiation) {
       this.contentNegotiation = contentNegotiation;
@@ -103,6 +123,7 @@ public Builder nativeHistograms(boolean nativeHistograms) {
 
     /** Enable all OpenMetrics 2.0 features */
     public Builder enableAll() {
+      this.enabled = true;
       this.contentNegotiation = true;
       this.compositeValues = true;
       this.exemplarCompliance = true;
@@ -112,7 +133,7 @@ public Builder enableAll() {
 
     public OpenMetrics2Properties build() {
       return new OpenMetrics2Properties(
-          contentNegotiation, compositeValues, exemplarCompliance, nativeHistograms);
+          enabled, contentNegotiation, compositeValues, exemplarCompliance, nativeHistograms);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/PrometheusProperties.java b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/PrometheusProperties.java
index a9045d711..55e7d8dab 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/PrometheusProperties.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/PrometheusProperties.java
@@ -242,7 +242,8 @@ public Builder exporterOpenTelemetryProperties(
     }
 
     public Builder enableOpenMetrics2(Consumer<OpenMetrics2Properties.Builder> configurator) {
-      OpenMetrics2Properties.Builder openMetrics2Builder = OpenMetrics2Properties.builder();
+      OpenMetrics2Properties.Builder openMetrics2Builder =
+          OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().enabled(true);
       configurator.accept(openMetrics2Builder);
       this.openMetrics2Properties = openMetrics2Builder.build();
       return this;
diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2PropertiesTest.java b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2PropertiesTest.java
index c3a0b9fca..e7a273464 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-config/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2PropertiesTest.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-config/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/config/OpenMetrics2PropertiesTest.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ void load() {
         load(
             new HashMap<>(
                 Map.of(
+                    "io.prometheus.openmetrics2.enabled",
+                    "true",
                     "io.prometheus.openmetrics2.content_negotiation",
                     "true",
                     "io.prometheus.openmetrics2.composite_values",
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@ void load() {
                     "true",
                     "io.prometheus.openmetrics2.native_histograms",
                     "true")));
+    assertThat(properties.getEnabled()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getContentNegotiation()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getCompositeValues()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getExemplarCompliance()).isTrue();
@@ -31,6 +34,11 @@ void load() {
 
   @Test
   void loadInvalidValue() {
+    assertThatExceptionOfType(PrometheusPropertiesException.class)
+        .isThrownBy(
+            () -> load(new HashMap<>(Map.of("io.prometheus.openmetrics2.enabled", "invalid"))))
+        .withMessage(
+            "io.prometheus.openmetrics2.enabled: Expecting 'true' or 'false'. Found: invalid");
     assertThatExceptionOfType(PrometheusPropertiesException.class)
         .isThrownBy(
             () ->
@@ -79,11 +87,13 @@ private static OpenMetrics2Properties load(Map<String, String> map) {
   void builder() {
     OpenMetrics2Properties properties =
         OpenMetrics2Properties.builder()
+            .enabled(true)
             .contentNegotiation(true)
             .compositeValues(false)
             .exemplarCompliance(true)
             .nativeHistograms(false)
             .build();
+    assertThat(properties.getEnabled()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getContentNegotiation()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getCompositeValues()).isFalse();
     assertThat(properties.getExemplarCompliance()).isTrue();
@@ -93,6 +103,7 @@ void builder() {
   @Test
   void builderEnableAll() {
     OpenMetrics2Properties properties = OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().enableAll().build();
+    assertThat(properties.getEnabled()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getContentNegotiation()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getCompositeValues()).isTrue();
     assertThat(properties.getExemplarCompliance()).isTrue();
@@ -102,6 +113,7 @@ void builderEnableAll() {
   @Test
   void defaultValues() {
     OpenMetrics2Properties properties = OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().build();
+    assertThat(properties.getEnabled()).isFalse();
     assertThat(properties.getContentNegotiation()).isFalse();
     assertThat(properties.getCompositeValues()).isFalse();
     assertThat(properties.getExemplarCompliance()).isFalse();
diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormats.java b/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormats.java
index ea2b294a2..a4a7088b8 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormats.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/main/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormats.java
@@ -76,11 +76,7 @@ public ExpositionFormatWriter findWriter(@Nullable String acceptHeader) {
   }
 
   private boolean isOpenMetrics2Enabled() {
-    OpenMetrics2Properties props = openMetrics2TextFormatWriter.getOpenMetrics2Properties();
-    return props.getContentNegotiation()
-        || props.getCompositeValues()
-        || props.getExemplarCompliance()
-        || props.getNativeHistograms();
+    return openMetrics2TextFormatWriter.getOpenMetrics2Properties().getEnabled();
   }
 
   public PrometheusProtobufWriter getPrometheusProtobufWriter() {
diff --git a/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormatsTest.java b/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormatsTest.java
index 35619042c..339c5dfa0 100644
--- a/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormatsTest.java
+++ b/prometheus-metrics-exposition-textformats/src/test/java/io/prometheus/metrics/expositionformats/ExpositionFormatsTest.java
@@ -119,60 +119,36 @@ void testOM2DisabledByDefault() {
   }
 
   @Test
-  void testOM2EnabledWithContentNegotiation() {
+  void testOM2EnabledOnly() {
     PrometheusProperties props =
         PrometheusProperties.builder()
-            .openMetrics2Properties(
-                OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().contentNegotiation(true).build())
+            .openMetrics2Properties(OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().enabled(true).build())
             .build();
     ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
     ExpositionFormatWriter writer = formats.findWriter("application/openmetrics-text");
-    // When contentNegotiation is enabled, should return OM2 writer
     assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetrics2TextFormatWriter.class);
   }
 
   @Test
-  void testOM2EnabledWithCompositeValues() {
-    PrometheusProperties props =
-        PrometheusProperties.builder()
-            .openMetrics2Properties(OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().compositeValues(true).build())
-            .build();
-    ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
-    ExpositionFormatWriter writer = formats.findWriter("application/openmetrics-text");
-    assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetrics2TextFormatWriter.class);
-  }
-
-  @Test
-  void testOM2EnabledWithExemplarCompliance() {
+  void testOM2NotEnabledByFeatureFlagAlone() {
+    // Feature flags without enabled=true should not activate the OM2 writer
     PrometheusProperties props =
         PrometheusProperties.builder()
             .openMetrics2Properties(
-                OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().exemplarCompliance(true).build())
-            .build();
-    ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
-    ExpositionFormatWriter writer = formats.findWriter("application/openmetrics-text");
-    // When exemplarCompliance is enabled, should return OM2 writer
-    assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetrics2TextFormatWriter.class);
-  }
-
-  @Test
-  void testOM2EnabledWithNativeHistograms() {
-    PrometheusProperties props =
-        PrometheusProperties.builder()
-            .openMetrics2Properties(OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().nativeHistograms(true).build())
+                OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().contentNegotiation(true).build())
             .build();
     ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
     ExpositionFormatWriter writer = formats.findWriter("application/openmetrics-text");
-    // When nativeHistograms is enabled, should return OM2 writer
-    assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetrics2TextFormatWriter.class);
+    assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetricsTextFormatWriter.class);
   }
 
   @Test
-  void testOM2EnabledWithMultipleFlags() {
+  void testOM2EnabledWithFeatureFlags() {
     PrometheusProperties props =
         PrometheusProperties.builder()
             .openMetrics2Properties(
                 OpenMetrics2Properties.builder()
+                    .enabled(true)
                     .contentNegotiation(true)
                     .compositeValues(true)
                     .nativeHistograms(true)
@@ -180,7 +156,6 @@ void testOM2EnabledWithMultipleFlags() {
             .build();
     ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
     ExpositionFormatWriter writer = formats.findWriter("application/openmetrics-text");
-    // When multiple OM2 flags are enabled, should return OM2 writer
     assertThat(writer).isInstanceOf(OpenMetrics2TextFormatWriter.class);
   }
 
@@ -188,8 +163,7 @@ void testOM2EnabledWithMultipleFlags() {
   void testProtobufWriterTakesPrecedence() {
     PrometheusProperties props =
         PrometheusProperties.builder()
-            .openMetrics2Properties(
-                OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().contentNegotiation(true).build())
+            .openMetrics2Properties(OpenMetrics2Properties.builder().enabled(true).build())
             .build();
     ExpositionFormats formats = ExpositionFormats.init(props);
     ExpositionFormatWriter writer =