diff --git a/NuGet.config b/NuGet.config
index 2101e7c6e..09e8c36b3 100644
--- a/NuGet.config
+++ b/NuGet.config
@@ -13,7 +13,4 @@
       <package pattern="StellaOps.*" />
     </packageSource>
   </packageSourceMapping>
-  <fallbackPackageFolders>
-    <clear />
-  </fallbackPackageFolders>
 </configuration>
diff --git a/src/Directory.Build.props b/src/Directory.Build.props
index 706bf9a2b..0e6762b3d 100644
--- a/src/Directory.Build.props
+++ b/src/Directory.Build.props
@@ -76,8 +76,7 @@
     <!-- Enforce TreatWarningsAsErrors globally per AGENTS.md Rule 8.1 -->
     <TreatWarningsAsErrors>true</TreatWarningsAsErrors>
 
-    <!-- Centralize NuGet package cache to prevent directory sprawl -->
-    <RestorePackagesPath>$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)../.nuget/packages</RestorePackagesPath>
+    <!-- Use the system-wide NuGet package cache (~/.nuget/packages) -->
     <DisableImplicitNuGetFallbackFolder>true</DisableImplicitNuGetFallbackFolder>
 
     <!-- Disable NuGet audit to prevent build failures when mirrors are unreachable -->
@@ -90,8 +89,6 @@
     <RestoreWarningsAsErrors></RestoreWarningsAsErrors>
     <RestoreTreatWarningsAsErrors>false</RestoreTreatWarningsAsErrors>
     <RestoreDisableImplicitNuGetFallbackFolder>true</RestoreDisableImplicitNuGetFallbackFolder>
-    <RestoreFallbackFolders>clear</RestoreFallbackFolders>
-    <RestoreFallbackFoldersExcludes>clear</RestoreFallbackFoldersExcludes>
     <RestoreAdditionalProjectFallbackFolders>clear</RestoreAdditionalProjectFallbackFolders>
     <RestoreAdditionalProjectFallbackFoldersExcludes>clear</RestoreAdditionalProjectFallbackFoldersExcludes>
     <RestoreAdditionalFallbackFolders>clear</RestoreAdditionalFallbackFolders>