diff --git a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages/profiles.rs b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages/profiles.rs
index e02e6ad..6816c5b 100644
--- a/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages/profiles.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_app/src/shell/internal_pages/profiles.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use gpui::{
     px, rgb,
 };
 use gpui_component::{
-    IconName, Selectable, Sizable, StyledExt,
+    Disableable, IconName, Selectable, Sizable, StyledExt,
     button::{Button, ButtonVariants},
     scroll::ScrollableElement,
 };
@@ -146,7 +146,13 @@ fn render_profile_row(
                     default_for_active_space,
                     cx,
                 ))
-                .child(render_profile_sync_action(index, sync_profile_id, sync_policy, cx))
+                .child(render_profile_sync_action(
+                    index,
+                    sync_profile_id,
+                    profile.allows_sync(),
+                    sync_policy,
+                    cx,
+                ))
                 .child(render_profile_action(index, profile_id, active, cx)),
         )
         .into_any_element()
@@ -220,9 +226,21 @@ fn render_profile_action(
 fn render_profile_sync_action(
     index: usize,
     profile_id: ProfileId,
+    allows_sync: bool,
     sync_policy: ProfileSyncPolicy,
     cx: &mut Context<ElyShell>,
 ) -> AnyElement {
+    if !allows_sync {
+        return Button::new(("profile-sync-policy", index))
+            .ghost()
+            .xsmall()
+            .selected(true)
+            .disabled(true)
+            .label("Sync Paused")
+            .tooltip("Private Profiles keep Sync paused")
+            .into_any_element();
+    }
+
     let next_policy = sync_policy.toggled();
     let paused = sync_policy == ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused;
 
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/error.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/error.rs
index f1fa5e2..5361b6f 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/error.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/error.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ pub enum CoreError {
     #[error("profile not found: {id}")]
     ProfileNotFound { id: ProfileId },
 
+    #[error("private profile keeps sync paused: {id}")]
+    PrivateProfileSyncLocked { id: ProfileId },
+
     #[error("download not found: {id}")]
     DownloadNotFound { id: DownloadId },
 
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/profiles.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/profiles.rs
index cdb89dd..a537bcb 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/profiles.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/src/state/profiles.rs
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ impl BrowserCore {
             .iter_mut()
             .find(|profile| profile.id() == profile_id)
             .ok_or_else(|| CoreError::ProfileNotFound { id: profile_id.clone() })?;
+        if sync_policy == ProfileSyncPolicy::Enabled && !profile.allows_sync() {
+            return Err(CoreError::PrivateProfileSyncLocked { id: profile_id.clone() });
+        }
 
         profile.set_sync_policy(sync_policy);
         Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
index dc85334..025abcf 100644
--- a/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_browser_core/tests/profiles.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use std::error::Error;
 
-use ely_browser_core::{BrowserCore, InitialBrowserConfig};
+use ely_browser_core::{BrowserCore, CoreError, InitialBrowserConfig};
 use ely_domain::{CommandIntent, ProfileKind, ProfileSyncPolicy, UrlText};
 
 #[test]
@@ -85,3 +85,25 @@ fn profile_sync_policy_can_pause_one_profile() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     assert_eq!(research_profile.sync_policy(), ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused);
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn private_profile_sync_policy_stays_paused() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+    let mut core = BrowserCore::new(InitialBrowserConfig::ely_defaults()?)?;
+    let private_profile_id = core.create_profile("Private", 0x807d72, ProfileKind::Private)?;
+
+    let result = core.set_profile_sync_policy(&private_profile_id, ProfileSyncPolicy::Enabled);
+    let error = match result {
+        Ok(()) => return Err("private profile sync enabled".into()),
+        Err(error) => error,
+    };
+
+    assert_eq!(error, CoreError::PrivateProfileSyncLocked { id: private_profile_id.clone() });
+    let snapshot = core.snapshot()?;
+    let Some(private_profile) =
+        snapshot.profiles.iter().find(|profile| profile.id() == &private_profile_id)
+    else {
+        return Err("missing private profile".into());
+    };
+    assert_eq!(private_profile.sync_policy(), ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused);
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs b/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
index c69e752..a2fcc5e 100644
--- a/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
+++ b/crates/ely_domain/src/profile.rs
@@ -97,11 +97,19 @@ impl Profile {
         self.sync_policy
     }
 
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn allows_sync(&self) -> bool {
+        self.kind == ProfileKind::Standard
+    }
+
     pub fn set_download_policy(&mut self, download_policy: DownloadPolicy) {
         self.download_policy = download_policy;
     }
 
     pub fn set_sync_policy(&mut self, sync_policy: ProfileSyncPolicy) {
-        self.sync_policy = sync_policy;
+        self.sync_policy = match self.kind {
+            ProfileKind::Standard => sync_policy,
+            ProfileKind::Private => ProfileSyncPolicy::Paused,
+        };
     }
 }