diff --git a/apps/client-standalone/.env b/apps/client-standalone/.env
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..18a7bcf95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client-standalone/.env
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# The development license key for premium CKEditor features.
+# Note: This key must only be used for the Trilium Notes project.
+VITE_CKEDITOR_KEY=eyJhbGciOiJFUzI1NiJ9.eyJleHAiOjE3ODcyNzA0MDAsImp0aSI6IjkyMWE1MWNlLTliNDMtNGRlMC1iOTQwLTc5ZjM2MDBkYjg1NyIsImRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvbkNoYW5uZWwiOiJ0cmlsaXVtIiwiZmVhdHVyZXMiOlsiVFJJTElVTSJdLCJ2YyI6ImU4YzRhMjBkIn0.hny77p-U4-jTkoqbwPytrEar5ylGCWBN7Ez3SlB8i6_mJCBIeCSTOlVQk_JMiOEq3AGykUMHzWXzjdMFwgniOw
+VITE_CKEDITOR_ENABLE_INSPECTOR=false
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/apps/client-standalone/.env.production b/apps/client-standalone/.env.production
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..efd1fd517
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/client-standalone/.env.production
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+VITE_CKEDITOR_ENABLE_INSPECTOR=false
diff --git a/apps/client-standalone/vite.config.mts b/apps/client-standalone/vite.config.mts
index e936e0b7b..f0f48d108 100644
--- a/apps/client-standalone/vite.config.mts
+++ b/apps/client-standalone/vite.config.mts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ if (!isDev) {
 
 export default defineConfig(() => ({
     root: join(__dirname, 'src'),  // Set src as root so index.html is served from /
+    envDir: __dirname,  // Load .env files from client-standalone directory, not src/
     cacheDir: '../../../node_modules/.vite/apps/client-standalone',
     base: "",
     plugins,