diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/edit_policy.helpers.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/edit_policy.helpers.tsx
index 122fb83edab45f..12de34b79ee12d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/edit_policy.helpers.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/edit_policy.helpers.tsx
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ export const setup = async (arg?: {
         setReplicas: setReplicas('cold'),
         setFreeze: createSetFreeze('cold'),
         freezeExists: createFreezeExists('cold'),
+        ...createReadonlyActions('cold'),
         hasErrorIndicator: () => exists('phaseErrorIndicator-cold'),
         ...createIndexPriorityActions('cold'),
         ...createSearchableSnapshotActions('cold'),
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/features/searchable_snapshots.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/features/searchable_snapshots.test.ts
index a570c817cfe1b0..e21793e650683a 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/features/searchable_snapshots.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/features/searchable_snapshots.test.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ describe('<EditPolicy /> searchable snapshots', () => {
     component.update();
   });
 
-  test('enabling searchable snapshot should hide force merge, freeze and shrink in subsequent phases', async () => {
+  test('enabling searchable snapshot should hide force merge, freeze, readonly and shrink in subsequent phases', async () => {
     const { actions } = testBed;
 
     await actions.warm.enable(true);
@@ -44,16 +44,20 @@ describe('<EditPolicy /> searchable snapshots', () => {
 
     expect(actions.warm.forceMergeFieldExists()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(actions.warm.shrinkExists()).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(actions.warm.readonlyExists()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(actions.cold.searchableSnapshotsExists()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(actions.cold.freezeExists()).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(actions.cold.readonlyExists()).toBeTruthy();
 
     await actions.hot.setSearchableSnapshot('my-repo');
 
     expect(actions.warm.forceMergeFieldExists()).toBeFalsy();
     expect(actions.warm.shrinkExists()).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(actions.warm.readonlyExists()).toBeFalsy();
     // searchable snapshot in cold is still visible
     expect(actions.cold.searchableSnapshotsExists()).toBeTruthy();
     expect(actions.cold.freezeExists()).toBeFalsy();
+    expect(actions.cold.readonlyExists()).toBeFalsy();
   });
 
   test('disabling rollover toggle, but enabling default rollover', async () => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/serialization/policy_serialization.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/serialization/policy_serialization.test.ts
index 17dadb1c6b47e7..846e20b48ddcad 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/serialization/policy_serialization.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/__jest__/client_integration/edit_policy/serialization/policy_serialization.test.ts
@@ -426,6 +426,7 @@ describe('<EditPolicy /> serialization', () => {
       await actions.cold.setSelectedNodeAttribute('test:123');
       await actions.cold.setReplicas('123');
       await actions.cold.setFreeze(true);
+      await actions.cold.toggleReadonly(true);
       await actions.cold.setIndexPriority('123');
 
       await actions.savePolicy();
@@ -445,6 +446,7 @@ describe('<EditPolicy /> serialization', () => {
                     },
                   },
                   "freeze": Object {},
+                  "readonly": Object {},
                   "set_priority": Object {
                     "priority": 123,
                   },
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/common/types/policies.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/common/types/policies.ts
index d3fec300d2d5f6..f4ff69f9b5c10c 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/common/types/policies.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/common/types/policies.ts
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ export interface SerializedWarmPhase extends SerializedPhase {
 export interface SerializedColdPhase extends SerializedPhase {
   actions: {
     freeze?: {};
+    readonly?: {};
     allocate?: AllocateAction;
     set_priority?: {
       priority: number | null;
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/cold_phase/cold_phase.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/cold_phase/cold_phase.tsx
index 72651778f403ec..648aebf8118de2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/cold_phase/cold_phase.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/cold_phase/cold_phase.tsx
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import {
   IndexPriorityField,
   ReplicasField,
   FreezeField,
+  ReadonlyField,
 } from '../shared_fields';
 
 import { Phase } from '../phase';
@@ -38,6 +39,9 @@ export const ColdPhase: FunctionComponent = () => {
       {/* Freeze section */}
       {!isUsingSearchableSnapshotInHotPhase && <FreezeField phase="cold" />}
 
+      {/* Readonly section */}
+      {!isUsingSearchableSnapshotInHotPhase && <ReadonlyField phase="cold" />}
+
       {/* Data tier allocation section */}
       <DataTierAllocationField
         description={i18nTexts.dataTierAllocation.description}
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/readonly_field.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/readonly_field.tsx
index 13e8684e952f78..40687e29c2a9e0 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/readonly_field.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/readonly_field.tsx
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { LearnMoreLink } from '../../learn_more_link';
 import { ToggleFieldWithDescribedFormRow } from '../../described_form_row';
 
 interface Props {
-  phase: 'hot' | 'warm';
+  phase: 'hot' | 'warm' | 'cold';
 }
 
 export const ReadonlyField: React.FunctionComponent<Props> = ({ phase }) => {
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/searchable_snapshot_field/searchable_snapshot_field.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/searchable_snapshot_field/searchable_snapshot_field.tsx
index 4cef7615a2d8dd..50663d936617b7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/searchable_snapshot_field/searchable_snapshot_field.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/shared_fields/searchable_snapshot_field/searchable_snapshot_field.tsx
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ export const SearchableSnapshotField: FunctionComponent<Props> = ({
             'xpack.indexLifecycleMgmt.editPolicy.searchableSnapshotCalloutBody',
             {
               defaultMessage:
-                'Force merge, shrink and freeze actions are not allowed when searchable snapshots are enabled in this phase.',
+                'Force merge, shrink, read only and freeze actions are not allowed when searchable snapshots are enabled in this phase.',
             }
           )}
           data-test-subj="searchableSnapshotFieldsDisabledCallout"
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/warm_phase/warm_phase.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/warm_phase/warm_phase.tsx
index d082489c4b918e..29445ac8e4715e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/warm_phase/warm_phase.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/components/phases/warm_phase/warm_phase.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export const WarmPhase: FunctionComponent = () => {
 
       {!isUsingSearchableSnapshotInHotPhase && <ForcemergeField phase="warm" />}
 
-      <ReadonlyField phase="warm" />
+      {!isUsingSearchableSnapshotInHotPhase && <ReadonlyField phase="warm" />}
 
       {/* Data tier allocation section */}
       <DataTierAllocationField
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer.ts
index d8cffb974dfd1f..73ecb0d73b7a7e 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ export const createDeserializer = (isCloudEnabled: boolean) => (
       enabled: Boolean(cold),
       dataTierAllocationType: determineDataTierAllocationType(cold?.actions),
       freezeEnabled: Boolean(cold?.actions?.freeze),
+      readonlyEnabled: Boolean(cold?.actions?.readonly),
     },
     frozen: {
       enabled: Boolean(frozen),
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer_and_serializer.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer_and_serializer.test.ts
index bdb915ba62d44e..7cc48b3fcd90ed 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer_and_serializer.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/deserializer_and_serializer.test.ts
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ const originalPolicy: SerializedPolicy = {
           exclude: { test: 'my_value' },
         },
         freeze: {},
+        readonly: {},
         set_priority: {
           priority: 12,
         },
@@ -206,6 +207,14 @@ describe('deserializer and serializer', () => {
     expect(result.phases.warm!.actions.readonly).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
+  it('removes the readonly action if it is disabled in cold', () => {
+    formInternal._meta.cold.readonlyEnabled = false;
+
+    const result = serializer(formInternal);
+
+    expect(result.phases.cold!.actions.readonly).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
   it('allows force merge and readonly actions to be configured in hot with default rollover enabled', () => {
     formInternal._meta.hot.isUsingDefaultRollover = true;
     formInternal._meta.hot.bestCompression = false;
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/schema.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/schema.ts
index 2b90d75fa6da0a..ce7b36d69a32e7 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/schema.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/schema.ts
@@ -201,6 +201,10 @@ export const getSchema = (isCloudEnabled: boolean): FormSchema => ({
           defaultMessage: 'Freeze index',
         }),
       },
+      readonlyEnabled: {
+        defaultValue: false,
+        label: i18nTexts.editPolicy.readonlyEnabledFieldLabel,
+      },
       minAgeUnit: {
         defaultValue: 'd',
       },
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/serializer/serializer.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/serializer/serializer.ts
index b10e3294f75c74..24dafa6cca237d 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/serializer/serializer.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/form/serializer/serializer.ts
@@ -229,6 +229,15 @@ export const createSerializer = (originalPolicy?: SerializedPolicy) => (
         delete coldPhase.actions.freeze;
       }
 
+      /**
+       * COLD PHASE READ ONLY
+       */
+      if (_meta.cold.readonlyEnabled) {
+        coldPhase.actions.readonly = coldPhase.actions.readonly ?? {};
+      } else {
+        delete coldPhase.actions.readonly;
+      }
+
       /**
        * COLD PHASE SET PRIORITY
        */
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/types.ts b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/types.ts
index 977554f12da423..5cc631c5d95c0f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/types.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/index_lifecycle_management/public/application/sections/edit_policy/types.ts
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ interface WarmPhaseMetaFields extends DataAllocationMetaFields, MinAgeField, For
 interface ColdPhaseMetaFields extends DataAllocationMetaFields, MinAgeField {
   enabled: boolean;
   freezeEnabled: boolean;
+  readonlyEnabled: boolean;
 }
 
 interface FrozenPhaseMetaFields extends DataAllocationMetaFields, MinAgeField {