diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index abd4f0e..9646621 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ and stays on the local machine.
 
 | Tool | Action |
 | --- | --- |
-| `notes_list` | Search note titles and plaintext previews |
+| `notes_list` | Search notes; returns titles and metadata unless previews are explicitly requested |
 | `notes_read` | Read a note by the ID returned by `notes_list` |
 | `notes_create` | Create a plaintext-backed note |
 | `calendar_list_calendars` | List calendar indexes, names, and write capability |
diff --git a/src/integrations/notes.js b/src/integrations/notes.js
index aacbd7e..97c4b8d 100644
--- a/src/integrations/notes.js
+++ b/src/integrations/notes.js
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ function run(argv) {
           title: title,
           folder: currentFolder,
           modifiedAt: note.modificationDate().toISOString(),
-          preview: text.slice(0, 180)
+          preview: input.includePreview ? text.slice(0, 180) : undefined
         });
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/server.js b/src/server.js
index 0fb9c43..1550ff9 100644
--- a/src/server.js
+++ b/src/server.js
@@ -46,10 +46,11 @@ export function createMacMiniMcpServer() {
 
   server.tool(
     "notes_list",
-    "Find notes by optional text or folder filter. Returns previews, not full note bodies.",
+    "Find notes by optional text or folder filter. Titles and metadata are returned by default; request previews explicitly.",
     {
       query: z.string().optional().describe("Text to search in note title and plaintext body."),
       folder: z.string().optional().describe("Exact Notes folder name."),
+      includePreview: z.boolean().default(false).describe("Include plaintext previews only when needed; note content can be sensitive."),
       limit: z.number().int().positive().max(100).default(20),
     },
     handled(listNotes),