diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-iphone-deploy.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-iphone-deploy.yml
index 9ed691e..3426907 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-iphone-deploy.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-iphone-deploy.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,12 @@ on:
   pull_request:
     branches: [main]
     types: [opened, synchronize, reopened]
+    # Only run the iOS build+deploy when the PR actually touches the Swift app
+    # or this workflow itself. Docs-only / backend-only / admin-web-only PRs
+    # skip the runner entirely (no point rebuilding an unchanged .app).
+    paths:
+      - 'tabatago-swift/**'
+      - '.github/workflows/pr-iphone-deploy.yml'
 
 # Every mutation (comments, merge) goes through the Gitea API with PR_API_TOKEN,
 # never the runner's native GITHUB_TOKEN — so a `permissions:` block would be