diff --git a/.agents/workflow.md b/.agents/workflow.md
index 98f7ba48b..710db8e23 100644
--- a/.agents/workflow.md
+++ b/.agents/workflow.md
@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ This file expands [AGENTS.md](../AGENTS.md) for day-to-day repo work: tracker ha
 - Keep private launcher names, local paths, session aliases, dispatch policy, and operator workspace details outside this public repository.
 - GitHub remains the PR, CI, review, and merge surface. Use GitHub Issues or Projects for external collaboration only when the user or operator explicitly asks for that workflow.
 - Do not add repo-local tracker directories, tracker JSONL exports, dispatch logs, cross-repo research records, or operator decision records to AgentV commits unless the user explicitly asks for repository-local tracker artifacts.
-- The only repo-local Beads files intentionally tracked are `.beads/config.yaml`, `.beads/metadata.json`, and `.beads/.gitignore`. Never commit the embedded Dolt database, JSONL exports, backups, locks, logs, or runtime state.
-- Do not commit project-local coordination config files. The safe Beads defaults above are the exception.
+- Do not commit project-local coordination config files.
 - Do not use `git stash` on shared checkouts. Inspect `git status`, stage only your files, use a dedicated worktree, or ask before moving uncommitted changes.
 
 ## Worktree Setup
diff --git a/.beads/.gitignore b/.beads/.gitignore
index cda3a0ae5..317f9c8b8 100644
--- a/.beads/.gitignore
+++ b/.beads/.gitignore
@@ -73,7 +73,11 @@ backup/
 *.db-shm
 db.sqlite
 bd.db
+
+# Checkout-local config and identity. Copy config.yaml.example when using Beads.
+config.yaml
+metadata.json
+
 # NOTE: Do NOT add negation patterns here.
 # They would override fork protection in .git/info/exclude.
-# Config files (metadata.json, config.yaml) are tracked by git by default
-# since no pattern above ignores them.
+# config.yaml.example is the tracked template for the AgentV Beads remote.
diff --git a/.beads/config.yaml b/.beads/config.yaml.example
similarity index 94%
rename from .beads/config.yaml
rename to .beads/config.yaml.example
index 900c258d2..4ff5a45d3 100644
--- a/.beads/config.yaml
+++ b/.beads/config.yaml.example
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 # Beads Configuration File
+# Copy this file to .beads/config.yaml when using Beads in this checkout.
+# Keep .beads/config.yaml local; do not commit it.
 # This file configures default behavior for all bd commands in this repository
 # All settings can also be set via environment variables (BD_* prefix)
 # or overridden with command-line flags
diff --git a/.beads/metadata.json b/.beads/metadata.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 94ac64bae..000000000
--- a/.beads/metadata.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "database": "dolt",
-  "backend": "dolt",
-  "dolt_mode": "embedded",
-  "dolt_database": "av",
-  "project_id": "a7aea826-0087-45fc-93f5-9084e9924e8b"
-}