diff --git a/apps/studio/.env.example b/apps/studio/.env.example
index 5cff8b487..ccc53b0b7 100644
--- a/apps/studio/.env.example
+++ b/apps/studio/.env.example
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
-# Environment Variables
+# Environment Variables for Development
 # Copy this file to .env.local and customize
+#
+# NOTE: .env.production is used for production builds (e.g., app-host deployment)
 
-# Runtime Mode: 'msw' (default) | 'server'
-# - msw: Mock Service Worker with in-browser kernel
-# - server: Connect to real ObjectStack server
+# Runtime Mode: 'msw' (default for dev) | 'server'
+# - 'msw': Mock Service Worker with in-browser kernel (recommended for local dev)
+# - 'server': Connect to real ObjectStack server
 # Also overridable via URL: ?mode=msw|server
 VITE_RUNTIME_MODE=msw
 
diff --git a/apps/studio/.env.production b/apps/studio/.env.production
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a0debf79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/studio/.env.production
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Production Environment Configuration
+# This file is used during production builds (vite build)
+#
+# When Studio is deployed as part of app-host (examples/app-host),
+# it should run in server mode and connect to the app-host API server
+# instead of using MSW (Mock Service Worker).
+
+# Runtime Mode: 'server' for production deployment
+# - 'server': Connect to real ObjectStack server (app-host API)
+# - 'msw': Mock Service Worker mode (browser-based kernel, for local dev)
+VITE_RUNTIME_MODE=server
+
+# Server URL: Empty string for same-origin (app-host serves both UI and API)
+# The client SDK will use relative URLs (/api/v1/...)
+# Empty string = same origin (recommended for app-host deployment)
+VITE_SERVER_URL=