diff --git a/codex-rs/app-server/src/codex_message_processor.rs b/codex-rs/app-server/src/codex_message_processor.rs
index 1aeb62398..a83607a62 100644
--- a/codex-rs/app-server/src/codex_message_processor.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/app-server/src/codex_message_processor.rs
@@ -4272,7 +4272,6 @@ mod tests {
                 "cwd": "/",
                 "originator": "codex",
                 "cli_version": "0.0.0",
-                "instructions": null,
                 "model_provider": "test-provider"
             }),
             json!({
diff --git a/codex-rs/app-server/tests/common/rollout.rs b/codex-rs/app-server/tests/common/rollout.rs
index 72bc07753..994cdf5ff 100644
--- a/codex-rs/app-server/tests/common/rollout.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/app-server/tests/common/rollout.rs
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ pub fn create_fake_rollout(
         cwd: PathBuf::from("/"),
         originator: "codex".to_string(),
         cli_version: "0.0.0".to_string(),
-        instructions: None,
         source: SessionSource::Cli,
         model_provider: model_provider.map(str::to_string),
     };
@@ -135,7 +134,6 @@ pub fn create_fake_rollout_with_text_elements(
         cwd: PathBuf::from("/"),
         originator: "codex".to_string(),
         cli_version: "0.0.0".to_string(),
-        instructions: None,
         source: SessionSource::Cli,
         model_provider: model_provider.map(str::to_string),
     };
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
index 48c689e64..e3369f822 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/codex.rs
@@ -598,12 +598,7 @@ impl Session {
                 let conversation_id = ThreadId::default();
                 (
                     conversation_id,
-                    RolloutRecorderParams::new(
-                        conversation_id,
-                        forked_from_id,
-                        session_configuration.user_instructions.clone(),
-                        session_source,
-                    ),
+                    RolloutRecorderParams::new(conversation_id, forked_from_id, session_source),
                 )
             }
             InitialHistory::Resumed(resumed_history) => (
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/recorder.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/recorder.rs
index 13eace9f3..1c6503f31 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/recorder.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/recorder.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ pub enum RolloutRecorderParams {
     Create {
         conversation_id: ThreadId,
         forked_from_id: Option<ThreadId>,
-        instructions: Option<String>,
         source: SessionSource,
     },
     Resume {
@@ -81,13 +80,11 @@ impl RolloutRecorderParams {
     pub fn new(
         conversation_id: ThreadId,
         forked_from_id: Option<ThreadId>,
-        instructions: Option<String>,
         source: SessionSource,
     ) -> Self {
         Self::Create {
             conversation_id,
             forked_from_id,
-            instructions,
             source,
         }
     }
@@ -162,7 +159,6 @@ impl RolloutRecorder {
             RolloutRecorderParams::Create {
                 conversation_id,
                 forked_from_id,
-                instructions,
                 source,
             } => {
                 let LogFileInfo {
@@ -190,7 +186,6 @@ impl RolloutRecorder {
                         cwd: config.cwd.clone(),
                         originator: originator().value,
                         cli_version: env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION").to_string(),
-                        instructions,
                         source,
                         model_provider: Some(config.model_provider_id.clone()),
                     }),
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/tests.rs b/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/tests.rs
index 660e83e56..c519c0c70 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/tests.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/src/rollout/tests.rs
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ fn write_session_file_with_provider(
     let mut payload = serde_json::json!({
         "id": uuid,
         "timestamp": ts_str,
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -202,7 +201,6 @@ async fn test_list_conversations_latest_first() {
     let head_3 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u3,
         "timestamp": "2025-01-03T12-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -212,7 +210,6 @@ async fn test_list_conversations_latest_first() {
     let head_2 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u2,
         "timestamp": "2025-01-02T12-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -222,7 +219,6 @@ async fn test_list_conversations_latest_first() {
     let head_1 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u1,
         "timestamp": "2025-01-01T12-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -343,7 +339,6 @@ async fn test_pagination_cursor() {
     let head_5 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u5,
         "timestamp": "2025-03-05T09-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -353,7 +348,6 @@ async fn test_pagination_cursor() {
     let head_4 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u4,
         "timestamp": "2025-03-04T09-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -411,7 +405,6 @@ async fn test_pagination_cursor() {
     let head_3 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u3,
         "timestamp": "2025-03-03T09-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -421,7 +414,6 @@ async fn test_pagination_cursor() {
     let head_2 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u2,
         "timestamp": "2025-03-02T09-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -473,7 +465,6 @@ async fn test_pagination_cursor() {
     let head_1 = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": u1,
         "timestamp": "2025-03-01T09-00-00",
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -531,7 +522,6 @@ async fn test_get_thread_contents() {
     let expected_head = vec![serde_json::json!({
         "id": uuid,
         "timestamp": ts,
-        "instructions": null,
         "cwd": ".",
         "originator": "test_originator",
         "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -558,7 +548,6 @@ async fn test_get_thread_contents() {
         "payload": {
             "id": uuid,
             "timestamp": ts,
-            "instructions": null,
             "cwd": ".",
             "originator": "test_originator",
             "cli_version": "test_version",
@@ -643,7 +632,6 @@ async fn test_updated_at_uses_file_mtime() -> Result<()> {
                 id: conversation_id,
                 forked_from_id: None,
                 timestamp: ts.to_string(),
-                instructions: None,
                 cwd: ".".into(),
                 originator: "test_originator".into(),
                 cli_version: "test_version".into(),
@@ -751,7 +739,6 @@ async fn test_stable_ordering_same_second_pagination() {
         vec![serde_json::json!({
             "id": u,
             "timestamp": ts,
-            "instructions": null,
             "cwd": ".",
             "originator": "test_originator",
             "cli_version": "test_version",
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/review.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/review.rs
index 0de18438c..e5c980f68 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/review.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/review.rs
@@ -515,7 +515,6 @@ async fn review_input_isolated_from_parent_history() {
             "payload": {
                 "id": convo_id,
                 "timestamp": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z",
-                "instructions": null,
                 "cwd": ".",
                 "originator": "test_originator",
                 "cli_version": "test_version",
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/rollout_list_find.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/rollout_list_find.rs
index 518f26c56..a4213729b 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/rollout_list_find.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/rollout_list_find.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ fn write_minimal_rollout_with_id(codex_home: &Path, id: Uuid) -> PathBuf {
             "payload": {
                 "id": id,
                 "timestamp": "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z",
-                "instructions": null,
                 "cwd": ".",
                 "originator": "test",
                 "cli_version": "test",
diff --git a/codex-rs/protocol/src/protocol.rs b/codex-rs/protocol/src/protocol.rs
index 29eabe2bf..d5ead442d 100644
--- a/codex-rs/protocol/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/protocol/src/protocol.rs
@@ -1492,7 +1492,6 @@ pub struct SessionMeta {
     pub cwd: PathBuf,
     pub originator: String,
     pub cli_version: String,
-    pub instructions: Option<String>,
     #[serde(default)]
     pub source: SessionSource,
     pub model_provider: Option<String>,
@@ -1507,7 +1506,6 @@ impl Default for SessionMeta {
             cwd: PathBuf::new(),
             originator: String::new(),
             cli_version: String::new(),
-            instructions: None,
             source: SessionSource::default(),
             model_provider: None,
         }
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui/src/resume_picker.rs b/codex-rs/tui/src/resume_picker.rs
index 71d6da453..4ce17721c 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui/src/resume_picker.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui/src/resume_picker.rs
@@ -1362,7 +1362,6 @@ mod tests {
                             "cwd": cwd,
                             "originator": "user",
                             "cli_version": "0.0.0",
-                            "instructions": null,
                             "source": "Cli",
                             "model_provider": "openai",
                         }
diff --git a/codex-rs/tui2/src/resume_picker.rs b/codex-rs/tui2/src/resume_picker.rs
index 71d6da453..4ce17721c 100644
--- a/codex-rs/tui2/src/resume_picker.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/tui2/src/resume_picker.rs
@@ -1362,7 +1362,6 @@ mod tests {
                             "cwd": cwd,
                             "originator": "user",
                             "cli_version": "0.0.0",
-                            "instructions": null,
                             "source": "Cli",
                             "model_provider": "openai",
                         }