diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 8517412..b27a70f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -142,6 +142,14 @@ jobs:
             > /tmp/helm-cosi-custom-rbac.yaml
           ! grep -q "cosi-driver-clusterrole" /tmp/helm-cosi-custom-rbac.yaml
 
+          # Existing console Secret: chart must not create its own Secret and the
+          # Deployment must reference the supplied name.
+          helm template test deploy/rustfs-operator \
+            --set console.existingSecret=my-console-jwt \
+            > /tmp/helm-console-existing-secret.yaml
+          ! grep -q "console-secret" /tmp/helm-console-existing-secret.yaml
+          grep -q 'name: "my-console-jwt"' /tmp/helm-console-existing-secret.yaml
+
       - name: Check release metadata
         run: make release-metadata-check
 
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/README.md b/deploy/rustfs-operator/README.md
index 2bae013..1167e1f 100755
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/README.md
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/README.md
@@ -662,6 +662,30 @@ Before rolling back to a release without server-side sessions, scale the Console
 Deployment to zero, perform the rollback, then restore one replica so the two
 cookie formats never overlap.
 
+### Console JWT secret
+
+The Console encrypts in-process session data with a `jwt-secret`. By default the
+chart generates a random secret on first install and stores it in
+`<release>-console-secret` in the operator namespace, reusing it across upgrades.
+To manage the secret value outside the chart, either set `console.jwtSecret` or
+reference an existing Secret:
+
+```yaml
+console:
+  existingSecret: my-console-jwt
+```
+
+The referenced Secret must live in the operator namespace and contain a
+`jwt-secret` key (generate one with `openssl rand -base64 32`). When
+`console.existingSecret` is set, the chart does not create its own Console Secret
+and the Console Deployment reads `JWT_SECRET` from the existing Secret.
+`console.existingSecret` and `console.jwtSecret` are mutually exclusive.
+
+> Note: externally managed Secrets do not automatically trigger a Console
+> restart when the value of that Secret changes. Rotate the Secret value and
+> restart the Console Deployment manually (e.g. `kubectl rollout restart`)
+> for the new `jwt-secret` to take effect.
+
 ### Backend CORS (when frontend is on a different host)
 
 If the frontend is served from another host (e.g. `https://ui.example.com`) and the API at `https://api.example.com`, set allowed origins on the console backend:
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/_helpers.tpl b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/_helpers.tpl
index c7dfdb8..3e7cb84 100755
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -113,3 +113,16 @@ Create the name of the COSI driver service account to use
 {{- default "default" .Values.cosiDriver.serviceAccount.name }}
 {{- end }}
 {{- end }}
+
+{{/*
+Checksum of the Console JWT secret source, used to force a rollout when the
+secret changes. When console.existingSecret is set, checksum the referenced
+Secret name; otherwise checksum the chart-managed Console Secret template.
+*/}}
+{{- define "rustfs-operator.consoleSecretChecksum" -}}
+{{- if .Values.console.existingSecret -}}
+{{- .Values.console.existingSecret | sha256sum -}}
+{{- else -}}
+{{- include (print $.Template.BasePath "/console-secret.yaml") . | sha256sum -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- end }}
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-deployment.yaml b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-deployment.yaml
index 9de4cf3..73a674f 100755
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-deployment.yaml
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-deployment.yaml
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@
 {{- if and .Values.console.enabled (ne (toString .Values.console.replicas) "1") -}}
 {{- fail "console.replicas must be 1 because Console sessions are stored in process" -}}
 {{- end -}}
+{{- if and .Values.console.enabled .Values.console.existingSecret .Values.console.jwtSecret -}}
+{{- fail "console.existingSecret and console.jwtSecret are mutually exclusive; set only one" -}}
+{{- end -}}
+{{- $consoleSecretName := .Values.console.existingSecret | default (printf "%s-console-secret" (include "rustfs-operator.fullname" .)) -}}
 {{- if .Values.console.enabled -}}
 apiVersion: apps/v1
 kind: Deployment
@@ -46,7 +50,7 @@ spec:
         app.kubernetes.io/component: console
       annotations:
         # Force reload on secret changes
-        checksum/secret: {{ include (print $.Template.BasePath "/console-secret.yaml") . | sha256sum }}
+        checksum/secret: {{ include "rustfs-operator.consoleSecretChecksum" . }}
     spec:
       serviceAccountName: {{ include "rustfs-operator.consoleServiceAccountName" . }}
       {{- if $openShiftEnabled }}
@@ -73,7 +77,7 @@ spec:
             - name: JWT_SECRET
               valueFrom:
                 secretKeyRef:
-                  name: {{ include "rustfs-operator.fullname" . }}-console-secret
+                  name: {{ $consoleSecretName | quote }}
                   key: jwt-secret
           {{- with .Values.console.bindAddress }}
             - name: CONSOLE_BIND_ADDRESS
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-secret.yaml b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-secret.yaml
index 8186c0d..1e1325c 100755
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-secret.yaml
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/templates/console-secret.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-{{- if .Values.console.enabled -}}
+{{- if and .Values.console.enabled (not .Values.console.existingSecret) -}}
 {{- $secretName := printf "%s-console-secret" (include "rustfs-operator.fullname" .) -}}
 {{- $namespace := include "rustfs-operator.namespace" . -}}
 {{- $existingSecret := lookup "v1" "Secret" $namespace $secretName -}}
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.schema.json b/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.schema.json
index ead0aaf..db3959a 100644
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.schema.json
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.schema.json
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@
     "console": {
       "type": "object",
       "properties": {
+        "existingSecret": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "maxLength": 253,
+          "pattern": "^$|^[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]{0,61}[a-z0-9])?(\\.[a-z0-9]([-a-z0-9]{0,61}[a-z0-9])?)*$",
+          "description": "Name of a pre-existing Secret in the operator namespace containing the key jwt-secret; when set the chart does not create its own Console Secret."
+        },
         "loginAdmission": {
           "$ref": "#/definitions/admission"
         }
diff --git a/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.yaml b/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.yaml
index 11002a9..80a35a3 100755
--- a/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.yaml
+++ b/deploy/rustfs-operator/values.yaml
@@ -222,6 +222,12 @@ console:
   # Generate with: openssl rand -base64 32
   jwtSecret: ""
 
+  # Name of a pre-existing Secret in the operator namespace that contains the key
+  # "jwt-secret" used to encrypt in-process Console session data. When set, the chart
+  # does not create its own Console Secret and the Console Deployment references this
+  # Secret directly. Mutually exclusive with console.jwtSecret.
+  existingSecret: ""
+
   image:
     # Console uses the same image as operator
     repository: rustfs/operator