diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index aa20fa5..787712d 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@
 # misc
 .DS_Store
 *.pem
+.playwright-cli/
+tmp/
 
 # debug
 npm-debug.log*
diff --git a/components/form-builder-panels.tsx b/components/form-builder-panels.tsx
index c887946..27067e7 100644
--- a/components/form-builder-panels.tsx
+++ b/components/form-builder-panels.tsx
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ export type FormMetadataDraft = {
   completionLinkUrl: string;
   respondentLocale: AppLocale | null;
   showProgress: boolean;
+  allowBackNavigation: boolean;
   slug: string;
 };
 
@@ -355,9 +356,34 @@ export function FormSettingsPanel({
               }))
             }
           />
-          <span className="font-medium text-[var(--ink)]">
-            {t("builder.showProgress")}
-          </span>
+          <div className="grid gap-1">
+            <span className="font-medium text-[var(--ink)]">
+              {t("builder.showProgress")}
+            </span>
+            <span className="text-xs text-[var(--muted)]">
+              {t("builder.showProgressHelp")}
+            </span>
+          </div>
+        </label>
+
+        <label className="flex items-start gap-3 text-sm text-[var(--muted)]">
+          <Checkbox
+            checked={metadataDraft.allowBackNavigation}
+            onChange={(event) =>
+              setMetadataDraft((current) => ({
+                ...current,
+                allowBackNavigation: event.target.checked,
+              }))
+            }
+          />
+          <div className="grid gap-1">
+            <span className="font-medium text-[var(--ink)]">
+              {t("builder.allowBackNavigation")}
+            </span>
+            <span className="text-xs text-[var(--muted)]">
+              {t("builder.allowBackNavigationHelp")}
+            </span>
+          </div>
         </label>
       </div>
 
diff --git a/components/form-builder.test.tsx b/components/form-builder.test.tsx
index caf4917..25dad81 100644
--- a/components/form-builder.test.tsx
+++ b/components/form-builder.test.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ function createForm(blocks: BuilderBlock[]): BuilderForm {
     completionLinkUrl: null,
     respondentLocale: null,
     showProgress: true,
+    allowBackNavigation: true,
     slug: "demo-form",
     status: "DRAFT",
     updatedAt: "2026-04-14T12:00:00.000Z",
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ describe("FormBuilder", () => {
           form: {
             ...createForm([firstBlock]),
             respondentLocale: "ru",
+            allowBackNavigation: true,
           },
         }),
       } as Response;
@@ -241,11 +243,154 @@ describe("FormBuilder", () => {
     expect(String(fetchCalls[0]?.init?.body)).toContain(
       '"respondentLocale":null',
     );
+    expect(String(fetchCalls[0]?.init?.body)).toContain(
+      '"allowBackNavigation":true',
+    );
+
+    globalThis.fetch = previousFetch;
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+
+  test("saves allowBackNavigation as enabled by default from form settings", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const firstBlock = createBlock({
+      id: "block-1",
+      type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+      position: 0,
+      title: "First question",
+    });
+    const fetchCalls: Array<{ url: string; init?: RequestInit }> = [];
+    const previousFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+
+    globalThis.fetch = (async (
+      url: string | URL | Request,
+      init?: RequestInit,
+    ) => {
+      fetchCalls.push({ url: String(url), init });
+
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        json: async () => ({
+          form: createForm([firstBlock]),
+        }),
+      } as Response;
+    }) as typeof fetch;
+
+    const view = renderBuilder(createForm([firstBlock]), undefined, {
+      builder: { saveFormSettings: "Save form settings" },
+    });
+
+    fireEvent.click(view.getByRole("button", { name: "builder.settings" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(view.getByText("builder.settingsTitle") !== null).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    fireEvent.click(view.getByRole("button", { name: "Save form settings" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(fetchCalls.length).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+    expect(String(fetchCalls[0]?.init?.body)).toContain(
+      '"allowBackNavigation":true',
+    );
+
+    globalThis.fetch = previousFetch;
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+
+  test("saves a disabled allowBackNavigation value from form settings", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const firstBlock = createBlock({
+      id: "block-1",
+      type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+      position: 0,
+      title: "First question",
+    });
+    const fetchCalls: Array<{ url: string; init?: RequestInit }> = [];
+    const previousFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+
+    globalThis.fetch = (async (
+      url: string | URL | Request,
+      init?: RequestInit,
+    ) => {
+      fetchCalls.push({ url: String(url), init });
+
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        json: async () => ({
+          form: {
+            ...createForm([firstBlock]),
+            allowBackNavigation: false,
+          },
+        }),
+      } as Response;
+    }) as typeof fetch;
+
+    const view = renderBuilder(createForm([firstBlock]), undefined, {
+      builder: {
+        saveFormSettings: "Save form settings",
+        allowBackNavigation: "Allow going back",
+      },
+    });
+
+    fireEvent.click(view.getByRole("button", { name: "builder.settings" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(view.getByText("builder.settingsTitle") !== null).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    fireEvent.click(view.getAllByRole("checkbox")[1] as HTMLInputElement);
+    fireEvent.click(view.getByRole("button", { name: "Save form settings" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(fetchCalls.length).toBe(1);
+    });
+
+    expect(String(fetchCalls[0]?.init?.body)).toContain(
+      '"allowBackNavigation":false',
+    );
 
     globalThis.fetch = previousFetch;
     await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
   });
 
+  test("reopens form settings with a saved disabled allowBackNavigation value", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const firstBlock = createBlock({
+      id: "block-1",
+      type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+      position: 0,
+      title: "First question",
+    });
+
+    const view = renderBuilder(
+      {
+        ...createForm([firstBlock]),
+        allowBackNavigation: false,
+      },
+      undefined,
+      {
+        builder: {
+          allowBackNavigation: "Allow going back",
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    fireEvent.click(view.getByRole("button", { name: "builder.settings" }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(view.getByText("builder.settingsTitle") !== null).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    expect((view.getAllByRole("checkbox")[1] as HTMLInputElement).checked).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+
   test("lets the creator cancel or discard unsaved changes before opening form settings", async () => {
     const restoreDom = installTestDom();
     const firstBlock = createBlock({
diff --git a/components/form-builder.tsx b/components/form-builder.tsx
index 98056a0..63d048c 100644
--- a/components/form-builder.tsx
+++ b/components/form-builder.tsx
@@ -286,6 +286,7 @@ export function FormBuilder({
     completionLinkUrl: initialForm.completionLinkUrl ?? "",
     respondentLocale: initialForm.respondentLocale,
     showProgress: initialForm.showProgress,
+    allowBackNavigation: initialForm.allowBackNavigation,
     slug: initialForm.slug,
   });
 
@@ -377,6 +378,7 @@ export function FormBuilder({
       completionLinkUrl: form.completionLinkUrl ?? "",
       respondentLocale: form.respondentLocale,
       showProgress: form.showProgress,
+      allowBackNavigation: form.allowBackNavigation,
       slug: form.slug,
     });
   }, [
@@ -387,6 +389,7 @@ export function FormBuilder({
     form.completionLinkUrl,
     form.respondentLocale,
     form.showProgress,
+    form.allowBackNavigation,
     form.slug,
   ]);
 
diff --git a/components/public-form-runner.test.tsx b/components/public-form-runner.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea7d525
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/public-form-runner.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,202 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
+import { cleanup, render, waitFor } from "@testing-library/react";
+
+import { I18nProvider } from "@/components/i18n-provider";
+import { PublicFormRunner } from "@/components/public-form-runner";
+import type { SerializedBlock } from "@/lib/blocks";
+import { createPublicFormDraft } from "@/lib/public-form-draft";
+import type { PublicForm } from "@/lib/form-types";
+import { installTestDom } from "@/test/install-dom";
+
+function createBlock(overrides: {
+  id: string;
+  type: "TEXT" | "SHORT_TEXT" | "SINGLE_CHOICE";
+  position: number;
+  title?: string;
+  config?: Record<string, unknown>;
+}): SerializedBlock {
+  const now = new Date("2026-04-15T12:00:00.000Z");
+
+  return {
+    id: overrides.id,
+    formId: "form-1",
+    type: overrides.type,
+    title: overrides.title ?? overrides.id,
+    description: "",
+    required: false,
+    position: overrides.position,
+    createdAt: now,
+    updatedAt: now,
+    config:
+      overrides.config ??
+      (overrides.type === "TEXT"
+        ? { body: "Intro" }
+        : overrides.type === "SINGLE_CHOICE"
+          ? {
+              options: ["yes", "no"],
+              branchRules: [],
+              defaultNextBlockId: null,
+            }
+          : {
+              placeholder: "",
+              validationRegex: null,
+              branchRules: [],
+              defaultNextBlockId: null,
+            }),
+  } as SerializedBlock;
+}
+
+function createForm(
+  blocks: PublicForm["blocks"],
+  overrides: Partial<PublicForm> = {},
+): PublicForm {
+  return {
+    id: "form-1",
+    title: "Demo form",
+    description: "",
+    completionTitle: "Thanks",
+    completionMessage: "Done",
+    completionLinkLabel: null,
+    completionLinkUrl: null,
+    respondentLocale: null,
+    showProgress: false,
+    allowBackNavigation: true,
+    slug: "demo-form",
+    blocks,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
+function renderRunner(form: PublicForm) {
+  return render(
+    <I18nProvider
+      locale="en"
+      messages={{
+        publicRunner: {
+          back: "Back",
+          continue: "Continue",
+          submit: "Submit",
+          progressRestored: "Progress restored",
+          savedProgressDiscarded: "Saved progress discarded",
+        },
+      }}
+    >
+      <PublicFormRunner form={form} />
+    </I18nProvider>,
+  );
+}
+
+async function cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom: () => void) {
+  cleanup();
+  await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 0));
+  restoreDom();
+}
+
+describe("PublicFormRunner", () => {
+  test("shows the back button only when the form allows back navigation", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const blocks = [
+      createBlock({ id: "intro", type: "TEXT", position: 0, title: "Intro" }),
+      createBlock({
+        id: "name",
+        type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+        position: 1,
+        title: "Name",
+      }),
+    ];
+
+    const enabledView = renderRunner(createForm(blocks));
+    expect(enabledView.getByRole("button", { name: /Back/i }) !== null).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    cleanup();
+
+    const disabledView = renderRunner(
+      createForm(blocks, { allowBackNavigation: false }),
+    );
+    expect(disabledView.queryByRole("button", { name: /Back/i }) === null).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+
+  test("restored sessions with back navigation disabled do not expose or trigger back navigation", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const form = createForm(
+      [
+        createBlock({
+          id: "name",
+          type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+          position: 0,
+          title: "Name",
+        }),
+        createBlock({
+          id: "notes",
+          type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+          position: 1,
+          title: "Notes",
+        }),
+      ],
+      { allowBackNavigation: false },
+    );
+
+    window.localStorage.setItem(
+      `lively-forms-public-runner-draft:${form.id}`,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createPublicFormDraft(form, {
+          answers: { name: "Ada", notes: "Saved" },
+          history: ["name", "notes"],
+          cursor: 1,
+        }),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const view = renderRunner(form);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(view.getByText("Progress restored") !== null).toBe(true);
+    });
+    expect(view.queryByRole("button", { name: /Back/i }) === null).toBe(true);
+
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+
+  test("restored sessions with back navigation enabled still allow going back", async () => {
+    const restoreDom = installTestDom();
+    const form = createForm([
+      createBlock({
+        id: "name",
+        type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+        position: 0,
+        title: "Name",
+      }),
+      createBlock({
+        id: "notes",
+        type: "SHORT_TEXT",
+        position: 1,
+        title: "Notes",
+      }),
+    ]);
+
+    window.localStorage.setItem(
+      `lively-forms-public-runner-draft:${form.id}`,
+      JSON.stringify(
+        createPublicFormDraft(form, {
+          answers: { name: "Ada", notes: "Saved" },
+          history: ["name", "notes"],
+          cursor: 1,
+        }),
+      ),
+    );
+
+    const view = renderRunner(form);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(view.getByText("Progress restored") !== null).toBe(true);
+    });
+    expect(view.getByRole("button", { name: /Back/i }) !== null).toBe(true);
+
+    await cleanupAndRestore(restoreDom);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/components/public-form-runner.tsx b/components/public-form-runner.tsx
index b59bb90..c799b8a 100644
--- a/components/public-form-runner.tsx
+++ b/components/public-form-runner.tsx
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ export function PublicFormRunner({ form }: { form: PublicForm }) {
       : form.completionMessage.trim();
   const completionLinkLabel = form.completionLinkLabel?.trim() || null;
   const completionLinkUrl = form.completionLinkUrl?.trim() || null;
+  const allowBackNavigation = form.allowBackNavigation;
 
   function setAnswer(blockId: string, value: AnswerValue) {
     setAnswers((current) => ({
@@ -354,8 +355,8 @@ export function PublicFormRunner({ form }: { form: PublicForm }) {
   );
 
   const handleBack = useCallback(() => {
-    setRoute((current) => retreatRunnerRoute(current));
-  }, []);
+    setRoute((current) => retreatRunnerRoute(current, { allowBackNavigation }));
+  }, [allowBackNavigation]);
 
   function handleAdvanceKeyDown(
     event: ReactKeyboardEvent<HTMLElement>,
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ export function PublicFormRunner({ form }: { form: PublicForm }) {
         return;
       }
 
-      if (event.key === "Escape" && cursor > 0) {
+      if (event.key === "Escape" && cursor > 0 && allowBackNavigation) {
         event.preventDefault();
         handleBack();
       }
@@ -437,6 +438,7 @@ export function PublicFormRunner({ form }: { form: PublicForm }) {
     return () => window.removeEventListener("keydown", handleWindowKeyDown);
   }, [
     currentBlock,
+    allowBackNavigation,
     cursor,
     handleBack,
     handleContinue,
@@ -830,16 +832,20 @@ export function PublicFormRunner({ form }: { form: PublicForm }) {
           </AnimatePresence>
 
           <div className="mt-6 flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-[color:var(--line)] pt-4">
-            <Button
-              variant="secondary"
-              onClick={handleBack}
-              disabled={cursor === 0 || isSubmitting}
-            >
-              {t("publicRunner.back")}
-              <span className="ml-1 inline-flex h-5 items-center rounded-md border border-current/20 bg-black/10 px-1.5 text-[10px] font-medium opacity-90 dark:bg-white/10">
-                Esc
-              </span>
-            </Button>
+            {allowBackNavigation ? (
+              <Button
+                variant="secondary"
+                onClick={handleBack}
+                disabled={cursor === 0 || isSubmitting}
+              >
+                {t("publicRunner.back")}
+                <span className="ml-1 inline-flex h-5 items-center rounded-md border border-current/20 bg-black/10 px-1.5 text-[10px] font-medium opacity-90 dark:bg-white/10">
+                  Esc
+                </span>
+              </Button>
+            ) : (
+              <div />
+            )}
             <Button
               onClick={() => void handleContinue()}
               disabled={isSubmitting}
diff --git a/lib/form-metadata-schema.test.ts b/lib/form-metadata-schema.test.ts
index 30e0e8d..03fd718 100644
--- a/lib/form-metadata-schema.test.ts
+++ b/lib/form-metadata-schema.test.ts
@@ -21,4 +21,23 @@ describe("formMetadataSchema", () => {
 
     expect(parsed.respondentLocale).toBe(null);
   });
+
+  test("defaults allowBackNavigation to true", () => {
+    const parsed = formMetadataSchema.parse({
+      title: "Demo form",
+      slug: "demo-form",
+    });
+
+    expect(parsed.allowBackNavigation).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("preserves an explicit disabled allowBackNavigation value", () => {
+    const parsed = formMetadataSchema.parse({
+      title: "Demo form",
+      slug: "demo-form",
+      allowBackNavigation: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(parsed.allowBackNavigation).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/lib/form-types.ts b/lib/form-types.ts
index 5c6e595..5f49135 100644
--- a/lib/form-types.ts
+++ b/lib/form-types.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ export type BuilderForm = {
   completionLinkUrl: string | null;
   respondentLocale: AppLocale | null;
   showProgress: boolean;
+  allowBackNavigation: boolean;
   slug: string;
   status: FormStatus;
   updatedAt: string;
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ export type PublicForm = {
   completionLinkUrl: string | null;
   respondentLocale: AppLocale | null;
   showProgress: boolean;
+  allowBackNavigation: boolean;
   slug: string;
   blocks: PublicBlock[];
 };
diff --git a/lib/forms.ts b/lib/forms.ts
index 5408b0d..447588e 100644
--- a/lib/forms.ts
+++ b/lib/forms.ts
@@ -88,9 +88,10 @@ const builderFormInclude = {
   },
 } satisfies Prisma.FormInclude;
 
-type BuilderFormRecord = Prisma.FormGetPayload<{
-  include: typeof builderFormInclude;
-}>;
+type BuilderFormRecord = Form &
+  Prisma.FormGetPayload<{
+    include: typeof builderFormInclude;
+  }>;
 
 export type {
   BuilderForm,
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ function toBuilderForm(form: BuilderFormRecord): BuilderForm {
       ? normalizeLocale(form.respondentLocale)
       : null,
     showProgress: form.showProgress,
+    allowBackNavigation: form.allowBackNavigation,
     slug: form.slug,
     status: form.status,
     updatedAt: form.updatedAt.toISOString(),
@@ -153,6 +155,7 @@ function toPublicForm(form: Form & { blocks: FormBlock[] }): PublicForm {
       ? normalizeLocale(form.respondentLocale)
       : null,
     showProgress: form.showProgress,
+    allowBackNavigation: form.allowBackNavigation,
     slug: form.slug,
     blocks: form.blocks.map(serializeBlock),
   };
@@ -465,6 +468,7 @@ export async function createDraftForm(
       completionTitle: copy.completionTitle,
       completionMessage: copy.completionMessage,
       showProgress: true,
+      allowBackNavigation: true,
       slug,
       blocks: {
         create: initialBlocks(locale),
diff --git a/lib/public-form-draft.test.ts b/lib/public-form-draft.test.ts
index 681e3ac..86d7f85 100644
--- a/lib/public-form-draft.test.ts
+++ b/lib/public-form-draft.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ function createForm(blocks: SerializedBlock[]): PublicForm {
     completionLinkUrl: null,
     respondentLocale: null,
     showProgress: true,
+    allowBackNavigation: true,
     slug: "demo-form",
     blocks,
   };
diff --git a/lib/public-form-runner-state.test.ts b/lib/public-form-runner-state.test.ts
index f2a06cb..91a8318 100644
--- a/lib/public-form-runner-state.test.ts
+++ b/lib/public-form-runner-state.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test";
 
 import type { SerializedBlock } from "@/lib/blocks";
+import { resolveNextBlockId } from "@/lib/branching";
 import {
   advanceRunnerRoute,
   createInitialRunnerRoute,
@@ -99,6 +100,37 @@ describe("public form runner state helpers", () => {
     expect(total).toBe(2);
   });
 
+  test("branches correctly during forward-only progression", () => {
+    const blocks = [
+      createBlock({
+        id: "path",
+        type: "SINGLE_CHOICE",
+        position: 0,
+        config: {
+          options: ["yes", "no"],
+          branchRules: [
+            { operator: "equals", value: "yes", targetBlockId: "finish" },
+          ],
+          defaultNextBlockId: "fallback",
+        },
+      }),
+      createBlock({ id: "fallback", type: "SHORT_TEXT", position: 1 }),
+      createBlock({ id: "finish", type: "SHORT_TEXT", position: 2 }),
+    ];
+    const nextBlockId = resolveNextBlockId(blocks, "path", { path: "yes" });
+    const nextRoute = advanceRunnerRoute(
+      createInitialRunnerRoute(blocks),
+      "path",
+      nextBlockId ?? "fallback",
+    );
+
+    expect(nextBlockId).toBe("finish");
+    expect(JSON.stringify(nextRoute.history)).toBe(
+      JSON.stringify(["path", "finish"]),
+    );
+    expect(nextRoute.cursor).toBe(1);
+  });
+
   test("detects saved progress from answers, cursor movement, or history growth", () => {
     expect(
       hasRunnerProgress({
@@ -139,4 +171,19 @@ describe("public form runner state helpers", () => {
       JSON.stringify(["intro", "question", "finish"]),
     );
   });
+
+  test("does not move backward when back navigation is disabled", () => {
+    const route = retreatRunnerRoute(
+      {
+        history: ["intro", "question", "finish"],
+        cursor: 2,
+      },
+      { allowBackNavigation: false },
+    );
+
+    expect(route.cursor).toBe(2);
+    expect(JSON.stringify(route.history)).toBe(
+      JSON.stringify(["intro", "question", "finish"]),
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/lib/public-form-runner-state.ts b/lib/public-form-runner-state.ts
index b3da708..f26321e 100644
--- a/lib/public-form-runner-state.ts
+++ b/lib/public-form-runner-state.ts
@@ -91,7 +91,14 @@ export function advanceRunnerRoute(
   };
 }
 
-export function retreatRunnerRoute(route: PublicFormRunnerRoute) {
+export function retreatRunnerRoute(
+  route: PublicFormRunnerRoute,
+  options: { allowBackNavigation?: boolean } = {},
+) {
+  if (options.allowBackNavigation === false) {
+    return route;
+  }
+
   return {
     ...route,
     cursor: Math.max(0, route.cursor - 1),
diff --git a/lib/validators.ts b/lib/validators.ts
index b9123da..ce94aa6 100644
--- a/lib/validators.ts
+++ b/lib/validators.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ export const formMetadataSchema = z
     completionLinkUrl: z.string().trim().max(2048).default(""),
     respondentLocale: z.enum(supportedLocales).nullable().default(null),
     showProgress: z.boolean().default(true),
+    allowBackNavigation: z.boolean().default(true),
     slug: z
       .string()
       .trim()
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ export const formMetadataSchema = z
     respondentLocale: value.respondentLocale ?? null,
     completionLinkLabel: value.completionLinkLabel || null,
     completionLinkUrl: value.completionLinkUrl || null,
+    allowBackNavigation: value.allowBackNavigation,
   }));
 
 export const createBlockSchema = z.object({
diff --git a/locales/en.yml b/locales/en.yml
index 7839434..751d7e9 100644
--- a/locales/en.yml
+++ b/locales/en.yml
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ builder:
   respondentLanguageOptions:
     visitor: Use visitor's language
   showProgress: Show form progress
+  showProgressHelp: Show respondents where they are in the form.
+  allowBackNavigation: Allow going back to previous steps
+  allowBackNavigationHelp: Let respondents return to earlier visited steps in the public form runner.
   copyLink: Copy link
   openRunner: Open runner
   deleteForm: Delete form
diff --git a/locales/ru.yml b/locales/ru.yml
index de0b42a..bf9de44 100644
--- a/locales/ru.yml
+++ b/locales/ru.yml
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ builder:
   respondentLanguageOptions:
     visitor: Использовать язык посетителя
   showProgress: Показывать прогресс формы
+  showProgressHelp: Показывать респондентам, на каком шаге формы они находятся.
+  allowBackNavigation: Разрешить возврат к предыдущим шагам
+  allowBackNavigationHelp: Разрешить респондентам возвращаться к уже пройденным шагам в публичном раннере формы.
   copyLink: Скопировать ссылку
   openRunner: Открыть раннер
   deleteForm: Удалить форму
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/.openspec.yaml b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/.openspec.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..859e7bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/.openspec.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+schema: spec-driven
+created: 2026-04-15
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/design.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/design.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d84853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+## Context
+
+The public form runner currently models navigation as a visited-route history plus a cursor. That supports branching, respondent backtracking, and resumed sessions, but it assumes every published form allows backward movement. Form settings already persist respondent-facing runner options such as progress visibility and interface locale, so a new navigation-control setting fits the same metadata path. Because this change touches persisted form data, creator settings UI, public runner behavior, and draft restore semantics, a short design is useful before implementation.
+
+## Goals / Non-Goals
+
+**Goals:**
+- Let creators decide per form whether respondents may navigate back to earlier visited steps.
+- Preserve the existing experience for all current forms by defaulting to back navigation enabled.
+- Enforce the setting consistently in the live runner and after saved-progress restoration.
+- Keep the implementation aligned with existing form metadata storage, validation, and serialization patterns.
+
+**Non-Goals:**
+- Introducing per-block or conditional navigation locks.
+- Preventing browser-level page refresh/close/navigation outside the runner UI itself.
+- Reworking branching, submission validation, or progress calculations beyond the changes needed to respect the new setting.
+- Adding new respondent roles, authentication, or anti-tampering guarantees beyond existing public runner behavior.
+
+## Decisions
+
+### 1. Store back-navigation control as a persisted form-level boolean
+The system will add a boolean form field such as `allowBackNavigation` with a default of `true`, and include it in builder/public form payloads plus form metadata validation.
+
+**Why:** This setting is authored form behavior, similar to `showProgress` and `respondentLocale`, and must survive draft saves, publication, and later edits.
+
+**Alternatives considered:**
+- Keep the value only in client state: rejected because respondent behavior must follow the saved form, not the current creator session.
+- Encode the behavior indirectly from branching rules or block settings: rejected because the request is a simple form-wide navigation policy.
+
+### 2. Expose the control in form settings next to other respondent-experience options
+The builder will surface the option in the form settings panel alongside respondent language and progress visibility, using clear copy that explains the setting applies to respondents in the public runner.
+
+**Why:** Creators already manage runner-wide presentation and behavior in this panel, so adding one more runner-level control keeps discovery and mental model simple.
+
+**Alternatives considered:**
+- Add a separate advanced settings area: rejected because the feature is straightforward and would be harder to find.
+- Put the option on each block: rejected because the requested behavior is form-wide, not per-step.
+
+### 3. Enforce the rule at the runner action layer, not only in the UI
+When `allowBackNavigation` is false, the public runner will not render the back action and will also guard any back-navigation code paths so route state cannot move backward through helper calls or keyboard handling.
+
+**Why:** UI hiding alone is fragile. Central action-level enforcement keeps behavior correct if the component grows more navigation triggers later.
+
+**Alternatives considered:**
+- Hide only the back button: rejected because future shortcuts or internal calls could accidentally bypass the setting.
+- Rebuild the route model without a cursor/history concept: rejected because the current route model still works for forward progression and restore validation.
+
+### 4. Keep saved-progress restoration compatible and honor the current form setting on resume
+Stored drafts do not need to persist a separate copy of the back-navigation flag. On restore, the runner can continue restoring answers/history/cursor as it does today, but resumed interaction must use the current form setting to decide whether backward movement is available.
+
+**Why:** The restored state describes where the respondent is, while the form setting describes what navigation actions are currently allowed. This avoids invalidating saved progress just because the creator toggled the setting.
+
+**Alternatives considered:**
+- Include the flag in the draft fingerprint and invalidate drafts whenever it changes: rejected because restoring current position is still safe and less disruptive.
+- Force-collapsing restored history when back navigation is disabled: rejected because forward flow and progress calculations still benefit from the visited route.
+
+## Risks / Trade-offs
+
+- [Creators may expect the setting to prevent all browser back behavior] → Mitigation: scope copy and specs to runner back navigation within the form UI, not global browser history control.
+- [Hidden UI without logic guards could regress later] → Mitigation: centralize enforcement in the runner navigation handler/helper path and cover it with tests.
+- [Existing forms could change behavior unexpectedly] → Mitigation: default the stored field to `true` and treat missing legacy values as enabled.
+- [Restored sessions might feel inconsistent if creators change the setting mid-response] → Mitigation: honor the latest saved form behavior while still restoring the respondent's current step and answers.
+
+## Migration Plan
+
+- Add a new boolean column on `Form` with default `true`.
+- Thread the field through form loading, builder serialization, and metadata validation.
+- Update the builder settings save flow to persist the value.
+- Update public runner rendering and tests to respect the flag.
+- Rollback is low risk: the code can ignore the field and default behavior remains equivalent to enabled back navigation.
+
+## Open Questions
+
+- None currently. The requested behavior is clear enough to implement as a form-level boolean with a default-enabled migration.
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/proposal.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/proposal.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d0958c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/proposal.md
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+## Why
+
+The public form runner currently always lets respondents move backward through their visited path. That works for editable interview-style flows, but some forms need creators to lock answers once a respondent advances so later questions cannot be influenced by revisiting earlier steps.
+
+## What Changes
+
+- Add a per-form setting that lets creators choose whether respondents can navigate backward in the public form runner.
+- Preserve the current behavior as the default so existing forms continue allowing back navigation.
+- Update the public runner to hide or disable backward navigation when the setting is off while keeping forward progress, validation, branching, and submission intact.
+- Ensure saved draft progress and resumed sessions honor the form's configured back-navigation mode.
+
+## Capabilities
+
+### New Capabilities
+- None.
+
+### Modified Capabilities
+- `conversational-form-builder`: add a form-level setting for whether respondents may go back to earlier steps in the public runner.
+- `anonymous-form-runner`: allow forms to disable respondent back navigation and enforce that behavior consistently during active and restored sessions.
+
+## Impact
+
+- Affected code: Prisma form model, form settings validation and serialization, creator builder settings UI, public form runner navigation logic, runner draft restore behavior, and related tests/spec coverage.
+- No new external dependencies are expected.
+- Existing forms should remain backward-compatible by defaulting to back navigation enabled.
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6573f23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+## MODIFIED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Runner presents blocks in a linear one-at-a-time flow
+The system SHALL present form blocks one at a time starting from the first saved block and SHALL resolve each next block by evaluating the current block's saved branch rules against the respondent's current answer. If no branch rule matches, the system SHALL continue to the block's configured default next target when present, or otherwise continue to the next block in saved order. Text blocks SHALL remain part of the flow but SHALL NOT collect an answer. When the form allows respondent back navigation, the system SHALL allow backward navigation across the respondent's visited path and SHALL recalculate future visited steps when a prior answer changes. When the form disables respondent back navigation, the system SHALL keep the respondent moving forward only and SHALL NOT expose runner controls that return to earlier visited steps.
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent sees a conditional follow-up question
+- **WHEN** a respondent answers a question with a value that matches a saved branch rule pointing to a later follow-up block
+- **THEN** the system shows that follow-up block as the next step in the runner
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent skips a branch-only follow-up
+- **WHEN** a respondent answers a question with a value that does not match any saved branch rule
+- **THEN** the system continues to the next block in saved order instead of showing the branched follow-up block
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent changes an earlier branching answer when back navigation is enabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent navigates backward on a form that allows back navigation, changes an answer that controls branching, and continues again
+- **THEN** the system recalculates the subsequent route from that changed answer and replaces the no-longer-valid future steps
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent uses a form with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent advances past a step on a form that disables back navigation
+- **THEN** the system does not provide runner navigation that returns them to an earlier visited step
+
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Restored public runner sessions honor the form's back-navigation mode
+The system SHALL restore saved public-runner progress only when the saved route remains valid for the current form, and resumed interaction SHALL honor the form's currently configured back-navigation mode.
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent resumes a form with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent restores saved progress for a form whose current settings disable back navigation
+- **THEN** the system restores the saved current step and answers without exposing runner navigation that goes back to earlier visited steps
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent resumes a form with back navigation enabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent restores saved progress for a form whose current settings allow back navigation
+- **THEN** the system restores the saved current step and continues allowing backward navigation across the restored visited path
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a27248b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+## ADDED Requirements
+
+### Requirement: Creator can configure respondent back navigation per form
+The system SHALL allow an authenticated creator to configure whether respondents may navigate backward to earlier visited steps in the public form runner for any accessible form. The setting SHALL default to enabled for existing and newly created forms unless the creator explicitly disables it.
+
+#### Scenario: Creator leaves back navigation enabled
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator keeps the respondent back-navigation setting enabled and saves form settings
+- **THEN** the system persists the form with respondent back navigation allowed
+
+#### Scenario: Creator disables back navigation
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator disables respondent back navigation in form settings and saves
+- **THEN** the system persists the form so respondents can continue forward but cannot return to earlier visited steps in the public runner
+
+#### Scenario: Creator reopens form settings with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator opens settings for a form that already has respondent back navigation disabled
+- **THEN** the system shows the saved disabled state as the current value
diff --git a/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/tasks.md b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/tasks.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6556c6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openspec/changes/archive/2026-04-15-restrict-form-runner-back-navigation/tasks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+## 1. Persist form-level back-navigation settings
+
+- [x] 1.1 Add a persisted `allowBackNavigation` form field with a default-enabled migration for existing and new forms
+- [x] 1.2 Thread `allowBackNavigation` through form metadata validation, form serialization, and builder/public form TypeScript types
+- [x] 1.3 Add or update validation tests to confirm the setting defaults to `true` and preserves explicit disabled values
+
+## 2. Expose the setting in creator form settings
+
+- [x] 2.1 Extend the form settings draft/save flow so creators can edit and persist the respondent back-navigation option
+- [x] 2.2 Update the form settings panel UI and localized copy to explain the option alongside other respondent-experience controls
+- [x] 2.3 Add builder UI tests covering default enabled behavior, disabling the setting, and reopening settings with a saved disabled value
+
+## 3. Enforce the setting in the public form runner
+
+- [x] 3.1 Update public runner navigation logic to block backward route movement when `allowBackNavigation` is false while preserving forward progression, validation, and branching
+- [x] 3.2 Update the runner UI so back navigation controls are only shown when the form allows them
+- [x] 3.3 Add runner state/component tests covering enabled back navigation, disabled back navigation, and branching after forward-only progression
+
+## 4. Honor the setting during saved-progress restore
+
+- [x] 4.1 Ensure restored runner sessions continue from the saved step while honoring the form's current `allowBackNavigation` mode
+- [x] 4.2 Add restore-focused tests proving resumed sessions do not expose backward navigation when the setting is disabled and still allow it when enabled
diff --git a/openspec/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md b/openspec/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md
index 46ff2f0..3e199de 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/anonymous-form-runner/spec.md
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ The system SHALL allow any respondent to open a published form's public route wi
 - **THEN** the system does not allow public response collection for that form
 
 ### Requirement: Runner presents blocks in a linear one-at-a-time flow
-The system SHALL present form blocks one at a time starting from the first saved block and SHALL resolve each next block by evaluating the current block's saved branch rules against the respondent's current answer. If no branch rule matches, the system SHALL continue to the block's configured default next target when present, or otherwise continue to the next block in saved order. Text blocks SHALL remain part of the flow but SHALL NOT collect an answer. The system SHALL allow backward navigation across the respondent's visited path and SHALL recalculate future visited steps when a prior answer changes.
+The system SHALL present form blocks one at a time starting from the first saved block and SHALL resolve each next block by evaluating the current block's saved branch rules against the respondent's current answer. If no branch rule matches, the system SHALL continue to the block's configured default next target when present, or otherwise continue to the next block in saved order. Text blocks SHALL remain part of the flow but SHALL NOT collect an answer. When the form allows respondent back navigation, the system SHALL allow backward navigation across the respondent's visited path and SHALL recalculate future visited steps when a prior answer changes. When the form disables respondent back navigation, the system SHALL keep the respondent moving forward only and SHALL NOT expose runner controls that return to earlier visited steps.
 
 #### Scenario: Respondent sees a conditional follow-up question
 - **WHEN** a respondent answers a question with a value that matches a saved branch rule pointing to a later follow-up block
@@ -22,10 +22,25 @@ The system SHALL present form blocks one at a time starting from the first saved
 - **WHEN** a respondent answers a question with a value that does not match any saved branch rule
 - **THEN** the system continues to the next block in saved order instead of showing the branched follow-up block
 
-#### Scenario: Respondent changes an earlier branching answer
-- **WHEN** a respondent navigates backward, changes an answer that controls branching, and continues again
+#### Scenario: Respondent changes an earlier branching answer when back navigation is enabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent navigates backward on a form that allows back navigation, changes an answer that controls branching, and continues again
 - **THEN** the system recalculates the subsequent route from that changed answer and replaces the no-longer-valid future steps
 
+#### Scenario: Respondent uses a form with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent advances past a step on a form that disables back navigation
+- **THEN** the system does not provide runner navigation that returns them to an earlier visited step
+
+### Requirement: Restored public runner sessions honor the form's back-navigation mode
+The system SHALL restore saved public-runner progress only when the saved route remains valid for the current form, and resumed interaction SHALL honor the form's currently configured back-navigation mode.
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent resumes a form with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent restores saved progress for a form whose current settings disable back navigation
+- **THEN** the system restores the saved current step and answers without exposing runner navigation that goes back to earlier visited steps
+
+#### Scenario: Respondent resumes a form with back navigation enabled
+- **WHEN** a respondent restores saved progress for a form whose current settings allow back navigation
+- **THEN** the system restores the saved current step and continues allowing backward navigation across the restored visited path
+
 ### Requirement: Runner shows progress across the full flow
 The system SHALL display progress based on the respondent's current visited route rather than assuming every saved block will appear, and SHALL update the visible step indicator when branching or backtracking changes that route.
 
diff --git a/openspec/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md b/openspec/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md
index 12ad35c..b86edbc 100644
--- a/openspec/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md
+++ b/openspec/specs/conversational-form-builder/spec.md
@@ -144,6 +144,21 @@ The system SHALL allow an authenticated creator to configure a form-level respon
 - **WHEN** an authenticated creator opens settings for a form that already has a saved respondent interface locale override
 - **THEN** the system shows the saved override as the current selected value
 
+### Requirement: Creator can configure respondent back navigation per form
+The system SHALL allow an authenticated creator to configure whether respondents may navigate backward to earlier visited steps in the public form runner for any accessible form. The setting SHALL default to enabled for existing and newly created forms unless the creator explicitly disables it.
+
+#### Scenario: Creator leaves back navigation enabled
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator keeps the respondent back-navigation setting enabled and saves form settings
+- **THEN** the system persists the form with respondent back navigation allowed
+
+#### Scenario: Creator disables back navigation
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator disables respondent back navigation in form settings and saves
+- **THEN** the system persists the form so respondents can continue forward but cannot return to earlier visited steps in the public runner
+
+#### Scenario: Creator reopens form settings with back navigation disabled
+- **WHEN** an authenticated creator opens settings for a form that already has respondent back navigation disabled
+- **THEN** the system shows the saved disabled state as the current value
+
 ### Requirement: Builder reflects the active workspace context
 The system SHALL show the active workspace context when a creator creates or edits a form so they can tell whether the form belongs to their personal workspace or an organization.
 
diff --git a/prisma/migrations/20260415180000_add_form_back_navigation_setting/migration.sql b/prisma/migrations/20260415180000_add_form_back_navigation_setting/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2bb2b76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prisma/migrations/20260415180000_add_form_back_navigation_setting/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+ALTER TABLE "Form"
+ADD COLUMN "allowBackNavigation" BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT true;
diff --git a/prisma/schema.prisma b/prisma/schema.prisma
index 53ed583..ca3c56c 100644
--- a/prisma/schema.prisma
+++ b/prisma/schema.prisma
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ model Form {
   completionLinkUrl   String?
   respondentLocale    String?
   showProgress        Boolean       @default(true)
+  allowBackNavigation Boolean       @default(true)
   slug                String        @unique
   status              FormStatus    @default(DRAFT)
   user                User          @relation(fields: [userId], references: [id], onDelete: Cascade)