diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 08c544238..7ceee11da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Adjoint simulations no longer contain unused gradient permittivity monitors, reducing processing time.
 - `Batch` prints total estimated cost if `verbose=True`.
 - Unified config and authentication.
+- Remove restriction that `JaxCustomMedium` must not be a 3D pixelated array.
 
 ### Fixed
 - Plotting 2D materials in `SimulationData.plot_field` and other circumstances.
diff --git a/tests/test_plugins/test_adjoint.py b/tests/test_plugins/test_adjoint.py
index 9535e0daf..4a0bf4390 100644
--- a/tests/test_plugins/test_adjoint.py
+++ b/tests/test_plugins/test_adjoint.py
@@ -1187,8 +1187,9 @@ def test_validate_vertices():
         poly = JaxPolySlab(vertices=vertices, slab_bounds=(-1, 1))
 
 
-def test_custom_medium_3D(use_emulated_run):
+def _test_custom_medium_3D(use_emulated_run):
     """Ensure custom medium fails if 3D pixelated grid."""
+    # NOTE: turned off since we relaxed this restriction
 
     jax_box = JaxBox(size=(1, 1, 1), center=(0, 0, 0))
 
diff --git a/tidy3d/plugins/adjoint/components/medium.py b/tidy3d/plugins/adjoint/components/medium.py
index 1ab99d676..3e7360de4 100644
--- a/tidy3d/plugins/adjoint/components/medium.py
+++ b/tidy3d/plugins/adjoint/components/medium.py
@@ -308,23 +308,22 @@ def _deprecation_dataset(cls, values):
         """Raise deprecation warning if dataset supplied and convert to dataset."""
         return values
 
-    @pd.validator("eps_dataset", always=True)
-    def _is_not_3d(cls, val):
-        """Ensure the custom medium pixels contain at least one dimension with only pixel thick."""
-
-        for field_dim in "xyz":
-            field_name = f"eps_{field_dim}{field_dim}"
-            data_array = val.field_components[field_name]
-            coord_lens = [len(data_array.coords[key]) for key in "xyz"]
-            dims_len1 = [val == 1 for val in coord_lens]
-            if sum(dims_len1) == 0:
-                raise SetupError(
-                    "For adjoint plugin, the 'JaxCustomMedium' is restricted to a 1D or 2D "
-                    "pixellated grid. It may not contain multiple pixels along all 3 dimensions. "
-                    f"Detected 3D pixelated grid in '{field_name}' component of 'eps_dataset'."
-                )
-
-        return val
+    # @pd.validator("eps_dataset", always=True)
+    # def _is_not_3d(cls, val):
+    #     """Ensure the custom medium pixels contain at least one dimension with one pixel thick."""
+    #     for field_dim in "xyz":
+    #         field_name = f"eps_{field_dim}{field_dim}"
+    #         data_array = val.field_components[field_name]
+    #         coord_lens = [len(data_array.coords[key]) for key in "xyz"]
+    #         dims_len1 = [val == 1 for val in coord_lens]
+    #         if sum(dims_len1) == 0:
+    #             raise SetupError(
+    #                 "For adjoint plugin, the 'JaxCustomMedium' is restricted to a 1D or 2D "
+    #                 "pixellated grid. It may not contain multiple pixels along all 3 dimensions. "
+    #                 f"Detected 3D pixelated grid in '{field_name}' component of 'eps_dataset'."
+    #             )
+
+    #     return val
 
     @pd.validator("eps_dataset", always=True)
     def _is_not_too_large(cls, val):