diff --git a/fern/products/api-def/api-def.yml b/fern/products/api-def/api-def.yml
index e4e109f8eb..777f21b3f9 100644
--- a/fern/products/api-def/api-def.yml
+++ b/fern/products/api-def/api-def.yml
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ navigation:
- page: Ignoring elements
path: ./asyncapi/extensions/ignore.mdx
- page: Server names
- path: ./asyncapi/extensions/server-name.mdx
+ path: ./asyncapi/extensions/server-name.mdx
+ - page: API Explorer control
+ path: ./asyncapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
- section: OpenRPC
collapsed: true
slug: openrpc
diff --git a/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/explorer.mdx b/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..68a0766fb5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+title: API Explorer control
+headline: API Explorer control (AsyncAPI)
+description: Enable or disable the API Explorer for WebSocket channels using `x-fern-explorer`
+---
+
+
+The [API Explorer](/learn/docs/api-references/api-explorer) is enabled by default for every WebSocket channel. Set `x-fern-explorer: false` at the document root to hide the Playground for all channels, and override it on individual channels; a channel's own value takes precedence. Non-boolean values are reported as errors when importing the specification.
+
+
+
+ ```yaml title="asyncapi.yml" {5,9}
+ asyncapi: 3.0.0
+ info:
+ title: Plant Store API
+ version: 1.0.0
+ x-fern-explorer: false # Disable the Explorer for all channels
+ channels:
+ plantMonitor:
+ address: /plants/monitor
+ x-fern-explorer: true # Enable the Explorer for this channel
+ messages:
+ moistureReading:
+ $ref: "#/components/messages/MoistureReading"
+ plantUpdates:
+ address: /plants/updates # Remains disabled (document-level value applies)
+ messages:
+ statusUpdate:
+ $ref: "#/components/messages/StatusUpdate"
+ ```
+
+
+ ```yaml title="asyncapi.yml" {5,8}
+ asyncapi: 2.6.0
+ info:
+ title: Plant Store API
+ version: 1.0.0
+ x-fern-explorer: false # Disable the Explorer for all channels
+ channels:
+ /plants/monitor:
+ x-fern-explorer: true # Enable the Explorer for this channel
+ subscribe:
+ operationId: monitorPlants
+ message:
+ $ref: "#/components/messages/MoistureReading"
+ /plants/updates: # Remains disabled (document-level value applies)
+ subscribe:
+ operationId: plantUpdates
+ message:
+ $ref: "#/components/messages/StatusUpdate"
+ ```
+
+
diff --git a/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/overview.md b/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/overview.md
index 8b72da0350..b9ae598656 100644
--- a/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/overview.md
+++ b/fern/products/api-def/asyncapi/extensions/overview.md
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ The table below shows all available extensions and links to detailed documentati
| [`x-fern-availability`](./availability) | Mark features as available in specific SDK versions |
| [`x-fern-audiences`](./audiences) | Filter operations by audience |
| [`x-fern-sdk-method-name`](./method-names) | Customize SDK method names |
+| [`x-fern-explorer`](./api-explorer-control) | Control API Explorer (playground) availability globally or per channel |
If there's an extension you want that doesn't already exist, file an [issue](https://github.com/fern-api/fern/issues/new) to start a discussion about it.
diff --git a/fern/products/api-def/openapi/extensions/explorer.mdx b/fern/products/api-def/openapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
index 1406a8d72b..aa2c249b67 100644
--- a/fern/products/api-def/openapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
+++ b/fern/products/api-def/openapi/extensions/explorer.mdx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ description: Enable or disable the API Explorer using `x-fern-explorer`
---
-The [API Explorer](/learn/docs/api-references/api-explorer) is enabled by default for all endpoints. Use `x-fern-explorer` to disable or it globally or to override it per operation. This is commonly used to disable the Explorer for destructive operations, payment processing, or admin-only endpoints.
+The [API Explorer](/learn/docs/api-references/api-explorer) is enabled by default for all endpoints. Use `x-fern-explorer` to disable it globally or to override it per operation. This is commonly used to disable the Explorer for destructive operations, payment processing, or admin-only endpoints. AsyncAPI specs support the same extension [per WebSocket channel](/learn/api-definitions/asyncapi/extensions/api-explorer-control).
## Global
diff --git a/fern/products/docs/pages/api-references/api-explorer.mdx b/fern/products/docs/pages/api-references/api-explorer.mdx
index 4ede707e94..86c5c3411a 100644
--- a/fern/products/docs/pages/api-references/api-explorer.mdx
+++ b/fern/products/docs/pages/api-references/api-explorer.mdx
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ For APIs that support WebSocket connections, the API Explorer includes a **WebSo
## Disable the API Explorer
-For OpenAPI specs, the API Explorer is enabled by default for all endpoints. To turn it off globally or per endpoint, use the [`x-fern-explorer`](/learn/api-definitions/openapi/extensions/api-explorer-control) extension. This is commonly used to disable the Explorer for destructive operations, payment processing, or admin-only endpoints.
+For OpenAPI specs, the API Explorer is enabled by default for all endpoints. To turn it off globally or per endpoint, use the [`x-fern-explorer`](/learn/api-definitions/openapi/extensions/api-explorer-control) extension. This is commonly used to disable the Explorer for destructive operations, payment processing, or admin-only endpoints. For AsyncAPI specs, the same extension applies [per channel](/learn/api-definitions/asyncapi/extensions/api-explorer-control).
Setting [`disable-explorer-proxy`](/learn/docs/configuration/site-level-settings#settingsdisable-explorer-proxy) does not turn the Explorer off. It keeps the Explorer running and routes requests directly to your API instead of through Fern's proxy.
diff --git a/fern/products/docs/pages/changelog/2026-08-19.mdx b/fern/products/docs/pages/changelog/2026-08-19.mdx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..03f376dab3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fern/products/docs/pages/changelog/2026-08-19.mdx
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+## Disable the API Explorer for WebSocket channels
+
+api-reference
+
+You can now turn off the API Explorer for WebSocket channels defined in an AsyncAPI specification. Set `x-fern-explorer: false` at the document root to hide the Playground for every channel, and override it on individual channels with `x-fern-explorer: true`.
+
+