diff --git a/docker-publish.ps1 b/docker-publish.ps1
index c85657d..84bbadd 100644
--- a/docker-publish.ps1
+++ b/docker-publish.ps1
@@ -66,16 +66,16 @@ scp @scpArgs
 if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Error "scp failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE)." }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 3 — copy the SQLite database (third password prompt)
+# Step 3 — copy the SQLite database (disabled — do not overwrite live data)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Write-Step "Copying database/app.sqlite to $SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST"
-$scpDbArgs = Get-BaseArgs
-$scpDbArgs += "database/app.sqlite", "${SSH_USER}@${SSH_HOST}:${REPO_PATH}/database/app.sqlite"
-scp @scpDbArgs
-if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Error "scp database failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE)." }
+# Write-Step "Copying database/app.sqlite to $SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST"
+# $scpDbArgs = Get-BaseArgs
+# $scpDbArgs += "database/app.sqlite", "${SSH_USER}@${SSH_HOST}:${REPO_PATH}/database/app.sqlite"
+# scp @scpDbArgs
+# if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { Write-Error "scp database failed (exit $LASTEXITCODE)." }
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Step 4 — start the container (fourth password prompt)
+# Step 4 — start the container (third password prompt)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Write-Step "Starting container on $SSH_USER@$SSH_HOST"