diff --git a/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.down.sql b/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.down.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c38c2a1e42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.down.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+-- Remove "assets" key from operator_settings
+UPDATE workspace_settings
+SET operator_settings = operator_settings - 'assets'
+WHERE operator_settings IS NOT NULL
+  AND operator_settings ? 'assets';
+
+-- Revert the column default
+ALTER TABLE workspace_settings
+ALTER COLUMN operator_settings SET DEFAULT '{
+    "runs": true,
+    "groups": true,
+    "folders": true,
+    "workers": true,
+    "triggers": true,
+    "resources": true,
+    "schedules": true,
+    "variables": true,
+    "audit_logs": true
+}';
diff --git a/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.up.sql b/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.up.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..96aba860ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/20260511075225_add_assets_to_operator_settings.up.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+-- Add "assets": true to operator_settings for all workspaces that have operator_settings
+-- but don't already have an "assets" key
+UPDATE workspace_settings
+SET operator_settings = operator_settings || '{"assets": true}'::jsonb
+WHERE operator_settings IS NOT NULL
+  AND NOT operator_settings ? 'assets';
+
+-- Update the column default to include assets
+ALTER TABLE workspace_settings
+ALTER COLUMN operator_settings SET DEFAULT '{
+    "runs": true,
+    "groups": true,
+    "folders": true,
+    "workers": true,
+    "triggers": true,
+    "resources": true,
+    "schedules": true,
+    "variables": true,
+    "audit_logs": true,
+    "assets": true
+}';
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/settings/WorkspaceOperatorSettings.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/settings/WorkspaceOperatorSettings.svelte
index 6aaa69cc53..ba8f42cba7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/settings/WorkspaceOperatorSettings.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/settings/WorkspaceOperatorSettings.svelte
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 		schedules: true,
 		resources: true,
 		variables: true,
-		assets: false,
+		assets: true,
 		triggers: true,
 		audit_logs: true,
 		groups: true,
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/sidebar/SidebarContent.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/sidebar/SidebarContent.svelte
index c2a790264a..f95d242657 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/sidebar/SidebarContent.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/sidebar/SidebarContent.svelte
@@ -303,7 +303,6 @@
 			label: 'Assets',
 			href: `${base}/assets`,
 			icon: Pyramid,
-			disabled: $userStore?.operator,
 			aiId: 'sidebar-menu-link-assets',
 			aiDescription: 'Button to navigate to assets'
 		},
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/(root)/(logged)/assets/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/(root)/(logged)/assets/+page.svelte
index 50ed6f041b..2873140fea 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/(root)/(logged)/assets/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/(root)/(logged)/assets/+page.svelte
@@ -12,7 +12,13 @@
 		type AssetKind,
 		type ListAssetsResponse
 	} from '$lib/gen'
-	import { userStore, workspaceStore, userWorkspaces, globalDbManagerDrawer } from '$lib/stores'
+	import {
+		userStore,
+		workspaceStore,
+		userWorkspaces,
+		globalDbManagerDrawer,
+		superadmin
+	} from '$lib/stores'
 	import { parseDbInputFromAssetSyntax, pluralize, truncate } from '$lib/utils'
 	import ExploreAssetButton, {
 		assetCanBeExplored
@@ -182,15 +188,17 @@
 								>
 									See documentation
 								</Button>
-								<Button
-									wrapperClasses="h-fit"
-									variant={props.data.current?.length === 0 && !props.data.loading
-										? 'accent'
-										: 'subtle'}
-									iconOnly
-									endIcon={{ icon: SettingsIcon }}
-									href={props.settingsHref}
-								/>
+								{#if !($userStore?.operator || (!$userStore?.is_admin && !$superadmin))}
+									<Button
+										wrapperClasses="h-fit"
+										variant={props.data.current?.length === 0 && !props.data.loading
+											? 'accent'
+											: 'subtle'}
+										iconOnly
+										endIcon={{ icon: SettingsIcon }}
+										href={props.settingsHref}
+									/>
+								{/if}
 							</div>
 						</div>
 						{#if props.data.current?.length}