diff --git a/synapse/config/experimental.py b/synapse/config/experimental.py
index 45cb084bdb..ce20055b91 100644
--- a/synapse/config/experimental.py
+++ b/synapse/config/experimental.py
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ class ExperimentalConfig(Config):
         # MSC4525: Paginated Sync, a simplified dialect of Simplified Sliding
         # Sync (MSC4186) without lists/ranges/subscriptions, where the server
         # pages the client through changed rooms (most recently active first)
-        # with bounded response sizes.
+        # with bounded response sizes. Disabled by default; can also be enabled
+        # for individual users via the admin experimental-features API.
         self.msc4525_enabled: bool = experimental.get("msc4525_enabled", False)
 
         # MSC3773: Thread notifications
diff --git a/synapse/rest/admin/experimental_features.py b/synapse/rest/admin/experimental_features.py
index abdb937793..9c2927c1fd 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/admin/experimental_features.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/admin/experimental_features.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class ExperimentalFeature(str, Enum):
     MSC3881 = "msc3881"
     MSC3575 = "msc3575"
     MSC4222 = "msc4222"
+    MSC4525 = "msc4525"
 
     def is_globally_enabled(self, config: "HomeServerConfig") -> bool:
         if self is ExperimentalFeature.MSC3881:
@@ -52,6 +53,8 @@ class ExperimentalFeature(str, Enum):
             return config.experimental.msc3575_enabled
         if self is ExperimentalFeature.MSC4222:
             return config.experimental.msc4222_enabled
+        if self is ExperimentalFeature.MSC4525:
+            return config.experimental.msc4525_enabled
 
         assert_never(self)
 
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/paginated_sync.py b/synapse/rest/client/paginated_sync.py
index 38e515d7f4..5da0972067 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/paginated_sync.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/paginated_sync.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from synapse.http.servlet import (
 )
 from synapse.http.site import SynapseRequest
 from synapse.logging.opentracing import log_kv, set_tag
+from synapse.rest.admin.experimental_features import ExperimentalFeature
 from synapse.rest.client._base import client_patterns
 from synapse.rest.client.sync import SlidingSyncRestServlet
 from synapse.types import JsonDict, Requester, SlidingSyncStreamToken
@@ -67,7 +68,11 @@ class PaginatedSyncRestServlet(SlidingSyncRestServlet):
         self.paginated_sync_handler = hs.get_paginated_sync_handler()
 
     async def on_POST(self, request: SynapseRequest) -> tuple[int, JsonDict]:
-        requester = await self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
+        # Disabled by default; enabled either globally (`msc4525_enabled`) or
+        # per user via the admin experimental-features API. 404s otherwise.
+        requester = await self.auth.get_user_by_req_experimental_feature(
+            request, allow_guest=True, feature=ExperimentalFeature.MSC4525
+        )
         user = requester.user
 
         timeout = parse_integer(request, "timeout", default=0)
@@ -156,5 +161,6 @@ class PaginatedSyncRestServlet(SlidingSyncRestServlet):
 
 
 def register_servlets(hs: "HomeServer", http_server: HttpServer) -> None:
-    if hs.config.experimental.msc4525_enabled:
-        PaginatedSyncRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
+    # Always registered; access is gated per user (or globally) via
+    # `ExperimentalFeature.MSC4525` in `on_POST`.
+    PaginatedSyncRestServlet(hs).register(http_server)
diff --git a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_paginated_sync.py b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_paginated_sync.py
index a0b4236f68..d611f5a6c2 100644
--- a/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_paginated_sync.py
+++ b/tests/rest/client/sliding_sync/test_paginated_sync.py
@@ -408,3 +408,53 @@ class PaginatedSyncTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
         response = self._sync(body, pos=pos)
         account_data_response = response["extensions"]["account_data"]["rooms"]
         self.assertIn(room_id, account_data_response, response)
+
+
+class PaginatedSyncPerUserEnablementTestCase(unittest.HomeserverTestCase):
+    """The endpoint is disabled by default and enablable per user via the
+    admin experimental-features API (`ExperimentalFeature.MSC4525`)."""
+
+    servlets = [
+        synapse.rest.admin.register_servlets,
+        login.register_servlets,
+        room.register_servlets,
+        paginated_sync.register_servlets,
+    ]
+
+    sync_endpoint = "/_matrix/client/unstable/org.matrix.msc4525/sync?timeout=0"
+
+    def prepare(self, reactor: MemoryReactor, clock: Clock, hs: HomeServer) -> None:
+        self.user = self.register_user("alice", "password")
+        self.tok = self.login("alice", "password")
+        self.admin_tok = self.login(
+            self.register_user("admin", "password", admin=True), "password"
+        )
+
+    def test_disabled_by_default_and_enablable_per_user(self) -> None:
+        body = {"page_size": 10, "limit": 5}
+
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "POST", self.sync_endpoint, body, access_token=self.tok
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 404, channel.json_body)
+
+        # Enable the feature for alice only.
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "PUT",
+            f"/_synapse/admin/v1/experimental_features/{self.user}",
+            {"features": {"msc4525": True}},
+            access_token=self.admin_tok,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 200, channel.json_body)
+
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "POST", self.sync_endpoint, body, access_token=self.tok
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 200, channel.json_body)
+
+        # Other users remain gated.
+        bob_tok = self.login(self.register_user("bob", "password"), "password")
+        channel = self.make_request(
+            "POST", self.sync_endpoint, body, access_token=bob_tok
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(channel.code, 404, channel.json_body)