diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/compat_rw2_test.go b/pkg/mimirpb/compat_rw2_test.go
index 02a8c833d84..4f863fa8c43 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/compat_rw2_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/compat_rw2_test.go
@@ -797,6 +797,50 @@ func TestRW2Unmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].Help, "It's a cool series, but old description.")
 		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].Unit, "megawatts")
 	})
+
+	t.Run("conflicting metadata, skipDeduplicateMetadata is true, both metadata and their order is preserved", func(t *testing.T) {
+		writeRequest := &WriteRequest{
+			SymbolsRW2: []string{"", "__name__", "my_cool_series", "It's a cool series, but old description.", "It's a cool series, but new description.", "megawatts"},
+			TimeseriesRW2: []TimeSeriesRW2{
+				{
+					LabelsRefs: []uint32{1, 2},
+					Metadata: MetadataRW2{
+						Type:    METRIC_TYPE_COUNTER,
+						HelpRef: 3,
+						UnitRef: 5,
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					LabelsRefs: []uint32{1, 2},
+					Metadata: MetadataRW2{
+						Type:    METRIC_TYPE_COUNTER,
+						HelpRef: 4,
+						UnitRef: 5,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		data, err := writeRequest.Marshal()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		// Unmarshal the data back into Mimir's WriteRequest.
+		received := PreallocWriteRequest{
+			SkipDeduplicateMetadata: true,
+		}
+		received.UnmarshalFromRW2 = true
+		err = received.Unmarshal(data)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		require.Len(t, received.Metadata, 2)
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].MetricFamilyName, "my_cool_series")
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].Type, COUNTER)
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].Help, "It's a cool series, but old description.")
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[0].Unit, "megawatts")
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[1].MetricFamilyName, "my_cool_series")
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[1].Type, COUNTER)
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[1].Help, "It's a cool series, but new description.")
+		require.Equal(t, received.Metadata[1].Unit, "megawatts")
+	})
 }
 
 func makeTestRW2WriteRequest(syms *test.SymbolTableBuilder) *WriteRequest {
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/custom.go b/pkg/mimirpb/custom.go
index 9cd477f300c..e042da838bf 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/custom.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/custom.go
@@ -452,6 +452,13 @@ type MarshalerWithSize interface {
 	MarshalWithSize(size int) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
+func metadataSetFromSettings(skipDeduplicateMetadata bool) metadataSet {
+	if skipDeduplicateMetadata {
+		return newPassthroughMetadataSet()
+	}
+	return newDedupingMetadataSet()
+}
+
 // metadataSet is the collection of metadata within a request.
 // It keeps the order at which metadata is added. Metadata may optionally be deduplicated by family name.
 type metadataSet interface {
@@ -461,6 +468,7 @@ type metadataSet interface {
 }
 
 var _ metadataSet = dedupingMetadataSet{}
+var _ metadataSet = &passthroughMetadataSet{}
 
 // dedupingMetadataSet is a metadataSet that only stores one metadata per metric family.
 // Only the first metadata seen for a given family is kept.
@@ -496,6 +504,28 @@ func (m dedupingMetadataSet) slice() []*MetricMetadata {
 	return result
 }
 
+type passthroughMetadataSet struct {
+	metadata []*MetricMetadata
+}
+
+func newPassthroughMetadataSet() *passthroughMetadataSet {
+	return &passthroughMetadataSet{
+		metadata: make([]*MetricMetadata, 0),
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *passthroughMetadataSet) add(family string, mm MetricMetadata) {
+	m.metadata = append(m.metadata, &mm)
+}
+
+func (m *passthroughMetadataSet) len() int {
+	return len(m.metadata)
+}
+
+func (m *passthroughMetadataSet) slice() []*MetricMetadata {
+	return m.metadata
+}
+
 // orderAwareMetricMetadata is a tuple (index, metadata) that knows its own position in a metadata slice.
 // It's tied to custom logic that unmarshals RW2 metadata into a map, and allows us to
 // remember the order that metadata arrived in when unmarshalling.
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
index f8afd4cc9b7..e7d3c6a4392 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
@@ -307,6 +307,8 @@ type WriteRequest struct {
 	skipUnmarshalingExemplars bool
 	// Skip normalization of metadata metric names when unmarshalling the request.
 	skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName bool
+	// Skip deduplication of metric metadata by family name.
+	skipDeduplicateMetadata bool
 	// Unmarshal from Remote Write 2.0. if rw2symbols is not nil.
 	unmarshalFromRW2 bool
 	rw2symbols       rw2PagedSymbols
@@ -7584,7 +7586,7 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
 			m.Timeseries = append(m.Timeseries, PreallocTimeseries{})
 			m.Timeseries[len(m.Timeseries)-1].skipUnmarshalingExemplars = m.skipUnmarshalingExemplars
 			if metadata == nil {
-				metadata = newDedupingMetadataSet()
+				metadata = metadataSetFromSettings(m.skipDeduplicateMetadata)
 			}
 			if err := m.Timeseries[len(m.Timeseries)-1].Unmarshal(dAtA[iNdEx:postIndex], &m.rw2symbols, metadata, m.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName); err != nil {
 				return err
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go.expdiff b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go.expdiff
index d77a28d82ba..589eb878a1d 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go.expdiff
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go.expdiff
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
-index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
+index e7d3c6a439..dda8609298 100644
 --- a/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
 +++ b/pkg/mimirpb/mimir.pb.go
 @@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ import (
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	Timeseries []PreallocTimeseries    `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=timeseries,proto3,customtype=PreallocTimeseries" json:"timeseries"`
  	Source     WriteRequest_SourceEnum `protobuf:"varint,2,opt,name=Source,proto3,enum=cortexpb.WriteRequest_SourceEnum" json:"Source,omitempty"`
  	Metadata   []*MetricMetadata       `protobuf:"bytes,3,rep,name=metadata,proto3" json:"metadata,omitempty"`
-@@ -302,14 +298,6 @@ type WriteRequest struct {
+@@ -302,16 +298,6 @@ type WriteRequest struct {
  	SkipLabelValidation bool `protobuf:"varint,1000,opt,name=skip_label_validation,json=skipLabelValidation,proto3" json:"skip_label_validation,omitempty"`
  	// Skip label count validation.
  	SkipLabelCountValidation bool `protobuf:"varint,1001,opt,name=skip_label_count_validation,json=skipLabelCountValidation,proto3" json:"skip_label_count_validation,omitempty"`
@@ -29,13 +29,15 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
 -	skipUnmarshalingExemplars bool
 -	// Skip normalization of metadata metric names when unmarshalling the request.
 -	skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName bool
+-	// Skip deduplication of metric metadata by family name.
+-	skipDeduplicateMetadata bool
 -	// Unmarshal from Remote Write 2.0. if rw2symbols is not nil.
 -	unmarshalFromRW2 bool
 -	rw2symbols       rw2PagedSymbols
  }
  
  func (m *WriteRequest) Reset()      { *m = WriteRequest{} }
-@@ -472,11 +460,6 @@ func (m *ErrorDetails) GetSoft() bool {
+@@ -474,11 +460,6 @@ func (m *ErrorDetails) GetSoft() bool {
  	return false
  }
  
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  type TimeSeries struct {
  	Labels []UnsafeMutableLabel `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=labels,proto3,customtype=UnsafeMutableLabel" json:"labels"`
  	// Sorted by time, oldest sample first.
-@@ -489,9 +472,6 @@ type TimeSeries struct {
+@@ -491,9 +472,6 @@ type TimeSeries struct {
  	// Zero value means value not set. If you need to use exactly zero value for
  	// the timestamp, use 1 millisecond before or after.
  	CreatedTimestamp int64 `protobuf:"varint,6,opt,name=created_timestamp,json=createdTimestamp,proto3" json:"created_timestamp,omitempty"`
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  }
  
  func (m *TimeSeries) Reset()      { *m = TimeSeries{} }
-@@ -5961,25 +5941,19 @@ func (m *TimeSeriesRW2) MarshalToSizedBuffer(dAtA []byte) (int, error) {
+@@ -5963,25 +5941,19 @@ func (m *TimeSeriesRW2) MarshalToSizedBuffer(dAtA []byte) (int, error) {
  		}
  	}
  	if len(m.LabelsRefs) > 0 {
@@ -88,7 +90,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  		i = encodeVarintMimir(dAtA, i, uint64(j21))
  		i--
  		dAtA[i] = 0xa
-@@ -6019,25 +5993,19 @@ func (m *ExemplarRW2) MarshalToSizedBuffer(dAtA []byte) (int, error) {
+@@ -6021,25 +5993,19 @@ func (m *ExemplarRW2) MarshalToSizedBuffer(dAtA []byte) (int, error) {
  		dAtA[i] = 0x11
  	}
  	if len(m.LabelsRefs) > 0 {
@@ -119,7 +121,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  		i = encodeVarintMimir(dAtA, i, uint64(j23))
  		i--
  		dAtA[i] = 0xa
-@@ -7385,9 +7353,6 @@ func valueToStringMimir(v interface{}) string {
+@@ -7387,9 +7353,6 @@ func valueToStringMimir(v interface{}) string {
  	return fmt.Sprintf("*%v", pv)
  }
  func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
@@ -129,7 +131,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	l := len(dAtA)
  	iNdEx := 0
  	for iNdEx < l {
-@@ -7417,9 +7382,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7419,9 +7382,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  		}
  		switch fieldNum {
  		case 1:
@@ -139,7 +141,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			if wireType != 2 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field Timeseries", wireType)
  			}
-@@ -7449,8 +7411,7 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7451,8 +7411,7 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
  			m.Timeseries = append(m.Timeseries, PreallocTimeseries{})
@@ -149,7 +151,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				return err
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
-@@ -7474,9 +7435,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7476,9 +7435,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  				}
  			}
  		case 3:
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			if wireType != 2 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field Metadata", wireType)
  			}
-@@ -7511,9 +7469,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7513,9 +7469,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
  		case 4:
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			if wireType != 2 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field SymbolsRW2", wireType)
  			}
-@@ -7543,16 +7498,9 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7545,16 +7498,9 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  			if postIndex > l {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
@@ -187,14 +189,14 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			if wireType != 2 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field TimeseriesRW2", wireType)
  			}
-@@ -7581,12 +7529,8 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7583,12 +7529,8 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  			if postIndex > l {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
 -			m.Timeseries = append(m.Timeseries, PreallocTimeseries{})
 -			m.Timeseries[len(m.Timeseries)-1].skipUnmarshalingExemplars = m.skipUnmarshalingExemplars
 -			if metadata == nil {
--				metadata = newDedupingMetadataSet()
+-				metadata = metadataSetFromSettings(m.skipDeduplicateMetadata)
 -			}
 -			if err := m.Timeseries[len(m.Timeseries)-1].Unmarshal(dAtA[iNdEx:postIndex], &m.rw2symbols, metadata, m.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName); err != nil {
 +			m.TimeseriesRW2 = append(m.TimeseriesRW2, TimeSeriesRW2{})
@@ -202,7 +204,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				return err
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
-@@ -7649,12 +7593,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7651,12 +7593,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  	if iNdEx > l {
  		return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  	}
@@ -215,7 +217,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	return nil
  }
  func (m *WriteResponse) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
-@@ -7922,11 +7860,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -7924,11 +7860,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  			if postIndex > l {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
@@ -230,7 +232,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
  		case 4:
-@@ -11235,10 +11171,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequestRW2) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
+@@ -11237,10 +11171,6 @@ func (m *WriteRequestRW2) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
  	return nil
  }
  func (m *TimeSeriesRW2) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
@@ -241,7 +243,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	l := len(dAtA)
  	iNdEx := 0
  	for iNdEx < l {
-@@ -11269,7 +11201,22 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11271,7 +11201,22 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  		switch fieldNum {
  		case 1:
  			if wireType == 0 {
@@ -265,7 +267,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			} else if wireType == 2 {
  				var packedLen int
  				for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
-@@ -11304,14 +11251,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11306,14 +11251,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  					}
  				}
  				elementCount = count
@@ -282,7 +284,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				for iNdEx < postIndex {
  					var v uint32
  					for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
-@@ -11328,27 +11270,7 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11330,27 +11270,7 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  							break
  						}
  					}
@@ -311,7 +313,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				}
  			} else {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field LabelsRefs", wireType)
-@@ -11450,11 +11372,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11452,11 +11372,9 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  			if postIndex > l {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
@@ -326,7 +328,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
  		case 5:
-@@ -11486,7 +11406,7 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11488,7 +11406,7 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  			if postIndex > l {
  				return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  			}
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				return err
  			}
  			iNdEx = postIndex
-@@ -11531,10 +11451,6 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
+@@ -11533,10 +11451,6 @@ func (m *TimeSeries) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadat
  	return nil
  }
  func (m *ExemplarRW2) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
@@ -346,7 +348,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	l := len(dAtA)
  	iNdEx := 0
  	for iNdEx < l {
-@@ -11565,7 +11481,22 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11567,7 +11481,22 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  		switch fieldNum {
  		case 1:
  			if wireType == 0 {
@@ -370,7 +372,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			} else if wireType == 2 {
  				var packedLen int
  				for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
-@@ -11600,13 +11531,9 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11602,13 +11531,9 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  					}
  				}
  				elementCount = count
@@ -386,7 +388,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				for iNdEx < postIndex {
  					var v uint32
  					for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
-@@ -11623,20 +11550,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11625,20 +11550,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  							break
  						}
  					}
@@ -408,7 +410,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				}
  			} else {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field LabelsRefs", wireType)
-@@ -11656,7 +11570,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11658,7 +11570,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  			if wireType != 0 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field Timestamp", wireType)
  			}
@@ -417,7 +419,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
  				if shift >= 64 {
  					return ErrIntOverflowMimir
-@@ -11666,7 +11580,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11668,7 +11580,7 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  				}
  				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
  				iNdEx++
@@ -426,7 +428,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				if b < 0x80 {
  					break
  				}
-@@ -11693,16 +11607,6 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
+@@ -11695,16 +11607,6 @@ func (m *Exemplar) UnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols) error {
  	return nil
  }
  func (m *MetadataRW2) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
@@ -443,7 +445,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  	l := len(dAtA)
  	iNdEx := 0
  	for iNdEx < l {
-@@ -11735,7 +11639,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11737,7 +11639,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  			if wireType != 0 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field Type", wireType)
  			}
@@ -452,7 +454,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
  				if shift >= 64 {
  					return ErrIntOverflowMimir
-@@ -11745,7 +11649,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11747,7 +11649,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  				}
  				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
  				iNdEx++
@@ -461,7 +463,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  				if b < 0x80 {
  					break
  				}
-@@ -11754,7 +11658,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11756,7 +11658,7 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  			if wireType != 0 {
  				return fmt.Errorf("proto: wrong wireType = %d for field HelpRef", wireType)
  			}
@@ -470,7 +472,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
  				if shift >= 64 {
  					return ErrIntOverflowMimir
-@@ -11764,20 +11668,16 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11766,20 +11668,16 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  				}
  				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
  				iNdEx++
@@ -493,7 +495,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  			for shift := uint(0); ; shift += 7 {
  				if shift >= 64 {
  					return ErrIntOverflowMimir
-@@ -11787,15 +11687,11 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11789,15 +11687,11 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  				}
  				b := dAtA[iNdEx]
  				iNdEx++
@@ -510,7 +512,7 @@ index f8afd4cc9b..dda8609298 100644
  		default:
  			iNdEx = preIndex
  			skippy, err := skipMimir(dAtA[iNdEx:])
-@@ -11815,23 +11711,6 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
+@@ -11817,23 +11711,6 @@ func MetricMetadataUnmarshalRW2(dAtA []byte, symbols *rw2PagedSymbols, metadata
  	if iNdEx > l {
  		return io.ErrUnexpectedEOF
  	}
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2.go b/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2.go
index a7be8c3c0cf..f2a0a8b1fbc 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func FromWriteRequestToRW2Request(rw1 *WriteRequest, commonSymbols []string, off
 		SkipLabelCountValidation:        rw1.SkipLabelCountValidation,
 		skipUnmarshalingExemplars:       rw1.skipUnmarshalingExemplars,
 		skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName: rw1.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName,
+		skipDeduplicateMetadata:         rw1.skipDeduplicateMetadata,
 	}
 
 	symbols := symbolsTableFromPool()
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2_test.go b/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2_test.go
index 0dcb34386bf..96503905a74 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/prealloc_rw2_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ func TestWriteRequestRW2Conversion(t *testing.T) {
 			SkipLabelCountValidation:        true,
 			skipUnmarshalingExemplars:       true,
 			skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName: true,
+			skipDeduplicateMetadata:         true,
 		}
 
 		rw2, err := FromWriteRequestToRW2Request(req, nil, 0)
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ func TestWriteRequestRW2Conversion(t *testing.T) {
 		require.True(t, rw2.SkipLabelCountValidation)
 		require.True(t, rw2.skipUnmarshalingExemplars)
 		require.True(t, rw2.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName)
+		require.True(t, rw2.skipDeduplicateMetadata)
 	})
 
 	t.Run("nil request turns into nil request", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -693,6 +695,7 @@ func TestWriteRequestRW2Conversion_WriteRequestHasChanged(t *testing.T) {
 		"SkipLabelCountValidation",
 		"skipUnmarshalingExemplars",
 		"skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName",
+		"skipDeduplicateMetadata",
 		"unmarshalFromRW2",
 		"rw2symbols",
 		"BufferHolder",
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/split.go b/pkg/mimirpb/split.go
index e951bc19f7b..0b043731e70 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/split.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/split.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func SplitWriteRequestByMaxMarshalSizeRW2(req *WriteRequest, reqSize, maxSize in
 			SkipLabelValidation:             req.SkipLabelValidation,
 			skipUnmarshalingExemplars:       req.skipUnmarshalingExemplars,
 			skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName: req.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName,
+			skipDeduplicateMetadata:         req.skipDeduplicateMetadata,
 			TimeseriesRW2:                   make([]TimeSeriesRW2, 0, estimatedTimeseriesPerPartialReq),
 		}
 
@@ -132,6 +133,7 @@ func splitTimeseriesByMaxMarshalSize(req *WriteRequest, reqSize, maxSize int) []
 			Source:                          req.Source,
 			SkipLabelValidation:             req.SkipLabelValidation,
 			skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName: req.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName,
+			skipDeduplicateMetadata:         req.skipDeduplicateMetadata,
 		}
 
 		return r, r.Size()
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ func splitMetadataByMaxMarshalSize(req *WriteRequest, reqSize, maxSize int) []*W
 			SkipLabelValidation:             req.SkipLabelValidation,
 			skipUnmarshalingExemplars:       req.skipUnmarshalingExemplars,
 			skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName: req.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName,
+			skipDeduplicateMetadata:         req.skipDeduplicateMetadata,
 		}
 		return r, r.Size()
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/split_test.go b/pkg/mimirpb/split_test.go
index deebe2b1f4e..2bcd267168e 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/split_test.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/split_test.go
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ func TestSplitWriteRequestByMaxMarshalSize_WriteRequestHasChanged(t *testing.T)
 		"SkipLabelCountValidation",
 		"skipUnmarshalingExemplars",
 		"skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName",
+		"skipDeduplicateMetadata",
 		"unmarshalFromRW2",
 		"rw2symbols",
 		"BufferHolder",
diff --git a/pkg/mimirpb/timeseries.go b/pkg/mimirpb/timeseries.go
index 95d70337964..2c58fd81e94 100644
--- a/pkg/mimirpb/timeseries.go
+++ b/pkg/mimirpb/timeseries.go
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ type PreallocWriteRequest struct {
 	// SkipNormalizeMetadataMetricName skips normalization of metric name in metadata on unmarshal. E.g., don't remove `_count` suffixes from histograms.
 	// Has no effect on marshalled or existing structs; must be set prior to Unmarshal calls.
 	SkipNormalizeMetadataMetricName bool
+	// SkipDeduplicateMetadata skips deduplication of RW2 metadata by metric family name.
+	// Normally this is done because RW2 requests to repeat metadata as it's embedded in timeseries.
+	// Some applications, like RW1->RW2 translation, might choose to disable it.
+	// Has no effect on marshalled or existing structs; must be set prior to Unmarshal calls.
+	SkipDeduplicateMetadata bool
 }
 
 // Unmarshal implements proto.Message.
@@ -85,6 +90,7 @@ func (p *PreallocWriteRequest) Unmarshal(dAtA []byte) error {
 	p.Timeseries = PreallocTimeseriesSliceFromPool()
 	p.skipUnmarshalingExemplars = p.SkipUnmarshalingExemplars
 	p.skipNormalizeMetadataMetricName = p.SkipNormalizeMetadataMetricName
+	p.skipDeduplicateMetadata = p.SkipDeduplicateMetadata
 	p.unmarshalFromRW2 = p.UnmarshalFromRW2
 	p.rw2symbols.offset = p.RW2SymbolOffset
 	p.rw2symbols.commonSymbols = p.RW2CommonSymbols
diff --git a/pkg/storage/ingest/version.go b/pkg/storage/ingest/version.go
index e4e7dab2c26..67c6cf1d3d1 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/ingest/version.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/ingest/version.go
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ func deserializeRecordContentV2(content []byte, wr *mimirpb.PreallocWriteRequest
 	wr.RW2SymbolOffset = V2RecordSymbolOffset
 	wr.RW2CommonSymbols = V2CommonSymbols
 	wr.SkipNormalizeMetadataMetricName = true
+	wr.SkipDeduplicateMetadata = true
 	return wr.Unmarshal(content)
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/storage/ingest/version_test.go b/pkg/storage/ingest/version_test.go
index e5bb872b38e..fb066a77a3f 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/ingest/version_test.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/ingest/version_test.go
@@ -240,6 +240,55 @@ func TestDeserializeRecordContent(t *testing.T) {
 		}}
 		require.Equal(t, expMetadata, wr.Metadata)
 	})
+
+	t.Run("v2 preserves conflicting metadata", func(t *testing.T) {
+		syms := test.NewSymbolTableBuilderWithCommon(nil, V2RecordSymbolOffset, V2CommonSymbols)
+		reqv2 := &mimirpb.WriteRequestRW2{
+			Timeseries: []mimirpb.TimeSeriesRW2{
+				{
+					LabelsRefs: []uint32{syms.GetSymbol("__name__"), syms.GetSymbol("test_histogram_seconds_bucket")},
+					Metadata: mimirpb.MetadataRW2{
+						Type:    mimirpb.METRIC_TYPE_HISTOGRAM,
+						HelpRef: syms.GetSymbol("Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket"),
+						UnitRef: syms.GetSymbol("seconds"),
+					},
+				},
+				{
+					LabelsRefs: []uint32{syms.GetSymbol("__name__"), syms.GetSymbol("test_histogram_seconds_bucket")},
+					Metadata: mimirpb.MetadataRW2{
+						Type:    mimirpb.METRIC_TYPE_GAUGE,
+						HelpRef: syms.GetSymbol("Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket, but different"),
+						UnitRef: syms.GetSymbol("seconds"),
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		}
+		reqv2.Symbols = syms.GetSymbols()
+		// Symbols should not contain common labels "__name__" and "job"
+		require.Equal(t, []string{"", "test_histogram_seconds_bucket", "Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket", "seconds", "Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket, but different"}, reqv2.Symbols)
+		v2bytes, err := reqv2.Marshal()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		wr := mimirpb.PreallocWriteRequest{}
+		err = DeserializeRecordContent(v2bytes, &wr, 2)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Len(t, wr.Timeseries, 2)
+		expMetadata := []*mimirpb.MetricMetadata{
+			{
+				Type:             mimirpb.HISTOGRAM,
+				MetricFamilyName: "test_histogram_seconds_bucket",
+				Help:             "Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket",
+				Unit:             "seconds",
+			},
+			{
+				Type:             mimirpb.GAUGE,
+				MetricFamilyName: "test_histogram_seconds_bucket",
+				Help:             "Help for test_histogram_seconds_bucket, but different",
+				Unit:             "seconds",
+			},
+		}
+		require.Equal(t, expMetadata, wr.Metadata)
+	})
 }
 
 func TestRecordSerializer(t *testing.T) {