diff --git a/c/docs/connecting.md b/c/docs/connecting.md
index d0b1b5d1..81edc39b 100644
--- a/c/docs/connecting.md
+++ b/c/docs/connecting.md
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ Examples: [`samples/unified/websockets`](../samples/unified/websockets/main.c),
 | `session_expiry_seconds` | mqttv5 only. How long the broker keeps the session after a disconnect. Default 1 hour. |
 | `lwt` | Optional Last Will. The SDK sets none of its own. |
 | `keep_alive_seconds`, `connect_timeout_seconds` | Default 30 s each. |
+| `twin_push` | mqttv5 only. Fixed for the client's lifetime. `push_desired` (default `false`): the service pushes the desired snapshot on connect and each desired patch while connected. When `false`, no desired patches are sent; the twin client fetches the snapshot on connect when behind, and later changes are seen only on reconnect or after `az_iot_mqttv5_twin_client_get()`. `push_reported` (default `false`): the service pushes the reported section on connect. |
 
 ## Certificates
 
diff --git a/c/inc/azure/iot/az_iot_connection_client.h b/c/inc/azure/iot/az_iot_connection_client.h
index b2895070..f1adb557 100644
--- a/c/inc/azure/iot/az_iot_connection_client.h
+++ b/c/inc/azure/iot/az_iot_connection_client.h
@@ -649,9 +649,12 @@ extern "C"
      * client: changing push mode at runtime would desynchronize the device's
      * expectation from the service's most recently recorded decision.
      *
-     * Both default to false (pull-only). With push_desired, the service pushes
-     * the desired snapshot on connect instead of the mqttv5 twin client fetching
-     * it. With push_reported, a pushed reported section reaches
+     * Both default to false. With push_desired, the service pushes the desired
+     * snapshot on connect and each desired patch while connected. Without it
+     * (pull mode) the service sends no desired patches: the mqttv5 twin client
+     * fetches the snapshot on connect when behind, and later changes are seen
+     * only on reconnect or after az_iot_mqttv5_twin_client_get(). With
+     * push_reported, a pushed reported section reaches
      * az_iot_mqttv5_twin_client_set_reported_handler(); without a handler it is
      * dropped. Ignored for MQTTv3 hubs and for DPS sessions.
      *
diff --git a/c/inc/azure/iot/mqttv5/az_iot_twin_client.h b/c/inc/azure/iot/mqttv5/az_iot_twin_client.h
index 104106fc..75a5448c 100644
--- a/c/inc/azure/iot/mqttv5/az_iot_twin_client.h
+++ b/c/inc/azure/iot/mqttv5/az_iot_twin_client.h
@@ -7,13 +7,15 @@
  * @file
  * @brief MQTT v5 (MQTTv5 hub) twin client.
  *
- * Desired properties are kept in sync with the service: the handler receives a
- * @ref AZ_IOT_MQTTV5_TWIN_DESIRED_SNAPSHOT (full document) whenever the device is
- * behind, then each in-order @ref AZ_IOT_MQTTV5_TWIN_DESIRED_PATCH. The client
- * fetches the snapshot itself: on connect when the birth-ack shows the device
- * behind (unless `options.twin_push.push_desired` has the service push it), and
- * whenever a patch or probe shows it behind. It holds no twin content, only
- * versions.
+ * Desired properties reach the handler as a
+ * @ref AZ_IOT_MQTTV5_TWIN_DESIRED_SNAPSHOT (full document) whenever the device
+ * is behind, then as each in-order @ref AZ_IOT_MQTTV5_TWIN_DESIRED_PATCH. The
+ * service sends patches and version probes only when
+ * `options.twin_push.push_desired` is set, and then also pushes the snapshot on
+ * connect. Otherwise (the default), changes made while connected reach the
+ * handler only on reconnect or after a GET. The client fetches a snapshot when
+ * the birth-ack (without push_desired), a GET, a patch or a probe shows it
+ * behind. It holds no twin content, only versions.
  *
  * GET and reported patches are requests: each completes exactly once, with the
  * service's answer, AZ_IOT_ERR_TIMEOUT, or AZ_IOT_ERR_NOT_CONNECTED. The SDK
diff --git a/c/src/mqttv5/twin_client.c b/c/src/mqttv5/twin_client.c
index 91f21680..3d668356 100644
--- a/c/src/mqttv5/twin_client.c
+++ b/c/src/mqttv5/twin_client.c
@@ -736,9 +736,9 @@ static void adopt_session(az_iot_mqttv5_twin_client* t)
 /**
  * @brief Hub CONNECTED: requests can now be published, so catch up.
  *
- * `twin_push.push_desired` only replaces the birth-ack fetch. A replaced twin
- * not yet settled by a pushed snapshot, or a gap a patch or probe showed before
- * CONNECTED, is still fetched.
+ * With `twin_push.push_desired` the service pushes the snapshot, so the birth-ack
+ * fetch is skipped; a replaced twin not yet settled by a pushed snapshot, or a
+ * gap a patch or probe showed before CONNECTED, is still fetched.
  */
 static void on_hub_connected(az_iot_mqttv5_twin_client* t)
 {
diff --git a/c/tests/unit/connection_client_test.c b/c/tests/unit/connection_client_test.c
index b95a806b..31036f72 100644
--- a/c/tests/unit/connection_client_test.c
+++ b/c/tests/unit/connection_client_test.c
@@ -817,6 +817,15 @@ static void hub_mqtt_v5_birth_advertises_configured_twin_push(void** state)
   assert_memory_equal(birth->payload, expect_body, sizeof(expect_body));
 }
 
+/* Twin push is opt-in: by default the birth requests no desired or reported push. */
+static void options_default_leaves_twin_push_off(void** state)
+{
+  (void)state;
+  az_iot_connection_client_options opts = az_iot_connection_client_options_default();
+  assert_false(opts.twin_push.push_desired);
+  assert_false(opts.twin_push.push_reported);
+}
+
 /* The connection nonce must be a well-formed RFC 4122 version 4 UUID: the
  * service treats it as a UUID, and the .NET client produces one via
  * Guid.NewGuid(). */
@@ -2792,6 +2801,7 @@ int main(void)
         hub_mqtt_v5_birth_reports_session_present, setup_mqtt_v5, teardown),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(
         hub_mqtt_v5_birth_advertises_configured_twin_push, setup_mqtt_v5_twin_push, teardown),
+    cmocka_unit_test(options_default_leaves_twin_push_off),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(hub_mqtt_v5_connect_nonce_is_uuid_v4, setup_mqtt_v5, teardown),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(
         hub_mqtt_v5_birth_ack_records_twin_versions, setup_mqtt_v5, teardown),
diff --git a/c/tests/unit/mqttv5_twin_client_test.c b/c/tests/unit/mqttv5_twin_client_test.c
index de04d58f..a3a239c9 100644
--- a/c/tests/unit/mqttv5_twin_client_test.c
+++ b/c/tests/unit/mqttv5_twin_client_test.c
@@ -1454,6 +1454,32 @@ static void connecting_current_does_not_fetch(void** state)
   assert_int_equal(count_gets(fx), 0);
 }
 
+/* Without push_desired the service sends no patches, so an application GET is how
+ * a change made while connected is found: one showing desired ahead fetches a
+ * snapshot for the handler. */
+static void a_get_ahead_fetches_a_snapshot(void** state)
+{
+  fixture* fx = (fixture*)*state;
+  desired_record drec = { 0 };
+  set_desired(fx, &drec);
+  open_to_connected(fx);
+
+  get_record rec = { 0 };
+  uint8_t corr[16];
+  issue_get(fx, &rec, corr);
+  /* TwinGetResponse { 1: desired_version=3, 2: reported_version=1 } */
+  const uint8_t body[] = { 0x08, 0x03, 0x10, 0x01 };
+  inject_twin(fx, "get-response:1", corr, body, sizeof(body));
+  assert_true(rec.fired);
+  assert_false(drec.fired);
+  assert_int_equal(count_gets(fx), 2);
+
+  answer_last_get(fx, 3, "{\"s\":3}");
+  assert_int_equal(drec.kind, AZ_IOT_MQTTV5_TWIN_DESIRED_SNAPSHOT);
+  assert_int_equal(drec.version, 3);
+  assert_string_equal(drec.payload, "{\"s\":3}");
+}
+
 /* A handler set while connected starts from a snapshot. */
 static void setting_a_handler_while_connected_fetches_a_snapshot(void** state)
 {
@@ -2561,6 +2587,7 @@ int main(void)
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(
         with_push_desired_connecting_does_not_fetch, setup_push_desired, teardown),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(connecting_current_does_not_fetch, setup, teardown),
+    cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(a_get_ahead_fetches_a_snapshot, setup, teardown),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(
         setting_a_handler_while_connected_fetches_a_snapshot, setup, teardown),
     cmocka_unit_test_setup_teardown(