diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8aaea93a..b8d8af13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,11 +56,14 @@ Below are the default key bindings for commonly used features supported in the e
 - `motoko.canister`: The default canister name to use in multi-canister projects
 - `motoko.formatter`: The formatter used by the language server
 - `motoko.mocJsPath`: Path to moc.js file for using a custom Motoko version
+- `motoko.lite`: Light mode. Disables the language server (type checking, completions, hover, go to definition, references/rename, code actions, signature help, workspace symbols, **format on save / format document**, and the "Import Mops Package" command) to reduce memory and CPU usage. Syntax highlighting, snippets, and `dfx.json` schema validation keep working — those come from the TextMate grammar, the snippets contribution, and the built-in JSON validator, not from the language server. Set this (e.g. `"motoko.lite": true`) when you want a minimal, lightweight Motoko editing experience. It is `resource`-scoped, so you can set it in your user/remote settings to enable lite mode everywhere, or in a workspace/folder's `.vscode/settings.json` to enable it only for that project. It takes effect after reloading the window.
 
 ## Advanced Configuration
 
 If you want VS Code to automatically format Motoko files on save, consider adding the following to your `settings.json` configuration:
 
+> **Note:** these formatter settings only take effect when the language server is running. With `motoko.lite` enabled (see the `motoko.lite` setting above), format-on-save is disabled, since formatting is provided by the language server.
+
 ```json
 {
   "[motoko]": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9263bead..494fc9f0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
     "name": "vscode-motoko",
     "displayName": "Motoko",
     "description": "Motoko language support",
-    "version": "0.23.6",
+    "version": "0.24.0",
     "publisher": "dfinity-foundation",
     "repository": "https://github.com/caffeinelabs/vscode-motoko",
     "engines": {
@@ -125,6 +125,12 @@
                     "type": "string",
                     "default": "",
                     "description": "Path to moc.js file for using a custom Motoko version (absolute, or relative to workspace root). Only load moc.js files from trusted sources."
+                },
+                "motoko.lite": {
+                    "scope": "resource",
+                    "type": "boolean",
+                    "default": false,
+                    "description": "Light mode: disables the language server (type checking, completions, hover, go to definition, references/rename, code actions, signature help, workspace symbols, format on save / format document, and the 'Import Mops Package' command) to reduce memory and CPU usage. Keeps syntax highlighting, snippets, and dfx.json schema validation. See the README 'motoko.lite' setting for details. Takes effect after reloading the window."
                 }
             }
         },
diff --git a/src/extension.ts b/src/extension.ts
index 549b73e2..46927ca1 100644
--- a/src/extension.ts
+++ b/src/extension.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,31 @@ import { ignoreGlobPatterns, watchGlob } from './common/watchConfig';
 let client: LanguageClient;
 
 export function activate(context: ExtensionContext) {
+    // Lite mode: skip the language server entirely (and everything that depends
+    // on it) to reduce memory and CPU usage. Keeps syntax highlighting,
+    // snippets, and dfx.json schema validation, since those don't come from
+    // the server. Formatting is also server-provided, so it's disabled too.
+    const lite = workspace.getConfiguration('motoko').get<boolean>('lite');
+    if (lite) {
+        // Log channel is only created in lite mode, so regular mode has zero
+        // footprint. Since there is no language server in lite mode, this
+        // single entry is the only place users can see that the setting is on.
+        const liteLogger = window.createOutputChannel('Motoko', {
+            log: true,
+        });
+        liteLogger.appendLine(
+            `Motoko lite mode is ON (motoko.lite): the language server is disabled, so type checking, completions, hover, go to definition, references/rename, code actions, signature help, workspace symbols, formatting, and the "Import Mops Package" command are unavailable. Syntax highlighting, snippets, and dfx.json schema validation keep working. Set "motoko.lite" to false and reload the window to re-enable the language server.`,
+        );
+        context.subscriptions.push(
+            liteLogger,
+            commands.registerCommand('motoko.startService', () =>
+                window.showInformationMessage(
+                    'Motoko lite mode is on: the language server is disabled. Turn off "motoko.lite" to enable type checking, completions, hover, and navigation.',
+                ),
+            ),
+        );
+        return;
+    }
     context.subscriptions.push(
         commands.registerCommand('motoko.startService', () =>
             startServer(context),