diff --git a/ui/Dockerfile b/ui/Dockerfile
index e5484d21..8459918d 100644
--- a/ui/Dockerfile
+++ b/ui/Dockerfile
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ COPY package.json package-lock.json ./
 RUN npm ci
 
 COPY . .
+
+ARG VITE_ENV_NAME=PRODUCTION
+ENV VITE_ENV_NAME=$VITE_ENV_NAME
 RUN npm run build
 
 FROM nginx:1.27-alpine
diff --git a/ui/src/api/queries/executions.ts b/ui/src/api/queries/executions.ts
index fb151c01..e9b9419b 100644
--- a/ui/src/api/queries/executions.ts
+++ b/ui/src/api/queries/executions.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ export function useExecutionStats() {
   });
 }
 
-export function useSearchExecutions(filters: SearchRequest) {
+export function useSearchExecutions(filters: SearchRequest, live = false) {
   return useQuery({
     queryKey: ['executions', 'search', filters],
     queryFn: async () => {
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export function useSearchExecutions(filters: SearchRequest) {
       return data!;
     },
     placeholderData: (prev) => prev,
+    refetchInterval: live ? 5_000 : false,
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.module.css b/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.module.css
index 2503b35b..cac7dd1f 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.module.css
+++ b/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.module.css
@@ -61,43 +61,6 @@
   gap: 16px;
 }
 
-.searchTrigger {
-  display: flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 8px;
-  padding: 5px 12px 5px 10px;
-  background: var(--bg-raised);
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
-  color: var(--text-muted);
-  font-size: 13px;
-  font-family: var(--font-body);
-  cursor: pointer;
-  transition: border-color 0.15s, color 0.15s;
-}
-
-.searchTrigger:hover {
-  border-color: var(--text-muted);
-  color: var(--text-secondary);
-}
-
-.searchTrigger svg {
-  width: 14px;
-  height: 14px;
-  opacity: 0.5;
-}
-
-.kbdKey {
-  font-family: var(--font-mono);
-  font-size: 11px;
-  padding: 1px 5px;
-  background: var(--bg-hover);
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: 4px;
-  color: var(--text-muted);
-  line-height: 1.4;
-}
-
 .envBadge {
   font-family: var(--font-mono);
   font-size: 11px;
diff --git a/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.tsx b/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.tsx
index c2659799..461bf6eb 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/layout/TopNav.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 import { NavLink } from 'react-router';
 import { useThemeStore } from '../../theme/theme-store';
 import { useAuthStore } from '../../auth/auth-store';
-import { useCommandPalette } from '../command-palette/use-command-palette';
 import styles from './TopNav.module.css';
 
 export function TopNav() {
   const { theme, toggle } = useThemeStore();
   const { username, logout } = useAuthStore();
-  const openPalette = useCommandPalette((s) => s.open);
 
   return (
     <nav className={styles.topnav}>
@@ -28,15 +26,7 @@ export function TopNav() {
       </ul>
 
       <div className={styles.navRight}>
-        <button className={styles.searchTrigger} onClick={openPalette}>
-          <svg viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" strokeWidth="2">
-            <circle cx="11" cy="11" r="8" />
-            <path d="m21 21-4.35-4.35" />
-          </svg>
-          Search...
-          <kbd className={styles.kbdKey}>&#8984;K</kbd>
-        </button>
-        <span className={styles.envBadge}>PRODUCTION</span>
+        <span className={styles.envBadge}>{import.meta.env.VITE_ENV_NAME || 'DEV'}</span>
         <button className={styles.themeToggle} onClick={toggle} title="Toggle theme">
           {theme === 'dark' ? '\u2600\uFE0F' : '\uD83C\uDF19'}
         </button>
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.module.css b/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.module.css
index 1496ca2b..51083c2d 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.module.css
+++ b/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.module.css
@@ -19,22 +19,48 @@
   margin-top: 2px;
 }
 
-.liveIndicator {
+.liveToggle {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
   gap: 8px;
   font-size: 12px;
-  color: var(--green);
   font-family: var(--font-mono);
   font-weight: 500;
+  background: none;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  padding: 6px 14px;
+  cursor: pointer;
+  transition: all 0.15s ease;
+}
+
+.liveToggle:hover {
+  background: var(--surface-hover);
+}
+
+.liveOn {
+  color: var(--green);
+  border-color: var(--green);
+}
+
+.liveOff {
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.liveOn .liveDot {
+  background: var(--green);
+  animation: livePulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
+}
+
+.liveOff .liveDot {
+  background: var(--text-muted);
+  animation: none;
 }
 
 .liveDot {
   width: 8px;
   height: 8px;
   border-radius: 50%;
-  background: var(--green);
-  animation: livePulse 2s ease-in-out infinite;
 }
 
 .statsBar {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.tsx b/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.tsx
index 49ba72ee..f5ccf80a 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/executions/ExecutionExplorer.tsx
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import { ResultsTable } from './ResultsTable';
 import styles from './ExecutionExplorer.module.css';
 
 export function ExecutionExplorer() {
-  const { toSearchRequest, offset, limit, setOffset } = useExecutionSearch();
+  const { toSearchRequest, offset, limit, setOffset, live, toggleLive } = useExecutionSearch();
   const searchRequest = toSearchRequest();
-  const { data, isLoading, isFetching } = useSearchExecutions(searchRequest);
+  const { data, isLoading, isFetching } = useSearchExecutions(searchRequest, live);
   const { data: stats } = useExecutionStats();
   const { data: timeseries } = useStatsTimeseries(
     searchRequest.timeFrom ?? undefined,
@@ -39,13 +39,13 @@ export function ExecutionExplorer() {
       {/* Page Header */}
       <div className={`${styles.pageHeader} animate-in`}>
         <div>
-          <h1>Transaction Explorer</h1>
+          <h1>Route Explorer</h1>
           <div className={styles.subtitle}>Search and analyze route executions</div>
         </div>
-        <div className={styles.liveIndicator}>
+        <button className={`${styles.liveToggle} ${live ? styles.liveOn : styles.liveOff}`} onClick={toggleLive}>
           <span className={styles.liveDot} />
-          LIVE
-        </div>
+          {live ? 'LIVE' : 'PAUSED'}
+        </button>
       </div>
 
       {/* Stats Bar */}
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export function ExecutionExplorer() {
         <StatCard label="Avg Duration" value={`${avgDuration}ms`} accent="cyan" sparkData={sparkAvgDuration} />
         <StatCard label="Failed (page)" value={failedCount.toString()} accent="rose" sparkData={sparkFailed} />
         <StatCard label="P99 Latency" value={stats ? `${stats.p99LatencyMs}ms` : '--'} accent="green" change="last hour" sparkData={sparkP99} />
-        <StatCard label="Active Now" value={stats ? stats.activeCount.toString() : '--'} accent="blue" change="running executions" sparkData={sparkActive} />
+        <StatCard label="In-Flight" value={stats ? stats.activeCount.toString() : '--'} accent="blue" change="running executions" sparkData={sparkActive} />
       </div>
 
       {/* Filters */}
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/executions/use-execution-search.ts b/ui/src/pages/executions/use-execution-search.ts
index 67c8fdf6..50614ccb 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/executions/use-execution-search.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/executions/use-execution-search.ts
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@ interface ExecutionSearchState {
   routeId: string;
   agentId: string;
   processorType: string;
+  live: boolean;
   offset: number;
   limit: number;
 
+  toggleLive: () => void;
   setStatus: (statuses: string[]) => void;
   toggleStatus: (s: string) => void;
   setTimeFrom: (v: string) => void;
@@ -47,9 +49,11 @@ export const useExecutionSearch = create<ExecutionSearchState>((set, get) => ({
   routeId: '',
   agentId: '',
   processorType: '',
+  live: true,
   offset: 0,
   limit: 25,
 
+  toggleLive: () => set((state) => ({ live: !state.live })),
   setStatus: (statuses) => set({ status: statuses, offset: 0 }),
   toggleStatus: (s) =>
     set((state) => ({