diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/Editor/TestSceneManiaComposeScreen.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/Editor/TestSceneManiaComposeScreen.cs
index 91f5f93905..a30e09cd29 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/Editor/TestSceneManiaComposeScreen.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests/Editor/TestSceneManiaComposeScreen.cs
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Mania.Tests.Editor
         [Test]
         public void TestDefaultSkin()
         {
-            AddStep("set default skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive());
+            AddStep("set default skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged());
         }
 
         [Test]
         public void TestLegacySkin()
         {
-            AddStep("set legacy skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = DefaultLegacySkin.CreateInfo().ToLive());
+            AddStep("set legacy skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = DefaultLegacySkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged());
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Database/RealmLiveTests.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Database/RealmLiveTests.cs
index 1d197791a4..06cb5a3607 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Database/RealmLiveTests.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Database/RealmLiveTests.cs
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
         {
             RunTestWithRealm((realmFactory, _) =>
             {
-                ILive<RealmBeatmap> beatmap = realmFactory.CreateContext().Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata()))).ToLive();
+                ILive<RealmBeatmap> beatmap = realmFactory.CreateContext().Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata()))).ToLive(realmFactory);
 
-                ILive<RealmBeatmap> beatmap2 = realmFactory.CreateContext().All<RealmBeatmap>().First().ToLive();
+                ILive<RealmBeatmap> beatmap2 = realmFactory.CreateContext().All<RealmBeatmap>().First().ToLive(realmFactory);
 
                 Assert.AreEqual(beatmap, beatmap2);
             });
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                 {
                     context.Write(r => r.Add(beatmap));
 
-                    liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                    liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                 }
 
                 using (var migratedStorage = new TemporaryNativeStorage("realm-test-migration-target"))
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
             {
                 var beatmap = new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata());
 
-                var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
 
                 using (var context = realmFactory.CreateContext())
                     context.Write(r => r.Add(beatmap));
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
         public void TestAccessNonManaged()
         {
             var beatmap = new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata());
-            var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+            var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLiveUnmanaged();
 
             Assert.IsFalse(beatmap.Hidden);
             Assert.IsFalse(liveBeatmap.Value.Hidden);
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                     {
                         var beatmap = threadContext.Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata())));
 
-                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                     }
                 }, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning | TaskCreationOptions.HideScheduler).Wait();
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                     {
                         var beatmap = threadContext.Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata())));
 
-                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                     }
                 }, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning | TaskCreationOptions.HideScheduler).Wait();
 
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
             RunTestWithRealm((realmFactory, _) =>
             {
                 var beatmap = new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata());
-                var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                var liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
 
                 Assert.DoesNotThrow(() =>
                 {
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                     {
                         var beatmap = threadContext.Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata())));
 
-                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                     }
                 }, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning | TaskCreationOptions.HideScheduler).Wait();
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                     {
                         var beatmap = threadContext.Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(CreateRuleset(), new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata())));
 
-                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                        liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                     }
                 }, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning | TaskCreationOptions.HideScheduler).Wait();
 
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Database
                             // not just a refresh from the resolved Live.
                             threadContext.Write(r => r.Add(new RealmBeatmap(ruleset, new RealmBeatmapDifficulty(), new RealmBeatmapMetadata())));
 
-                            liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive();
+                            liveBeatmap = beatmap.ToLive(realmFactory);
                         }
                     }, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning | TaskCreationOptions.HideScheduler).Wait();
 
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Background/TestSceneBackgroundScreenDefault.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Background/TestSceneBackgroundScreenDefault.cs
index bdd1b92c8d..4762d3cded 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Background/TestSceneBackgroundScreenDefault.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Background/TestSceneBackgroundScreenDefault.cs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Background
         private void setCustomSkin()
         {
             // feign a skin switch. this doesn't do anything except force CurrentSkin to become a LegacySkin.
-            AddStep("set custom skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = new SkinInfo().ToLive());
+            AddStep("set custom skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = new SkinInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged());
         }
 
         private void setDefaultSkin() => AddStep("set default skin", () => skins.CurrentSkinInfo.SetDefault());
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneBeatmapSkinFallbacks.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneBeatmapSkinFallbacks.cs
index cccc962a3f..c5f56cae9e 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneBeatmapSkinFallbacks.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneBeatmapSkinFallbacks.cs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Gameplay
             {
                 AddStep("setup skins", () =>
                 {
-                    skinManager.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = gameCurrentSkin.ToLive();
+                    skinManager.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = gameCurrentSkin.ToLiveUnmanaged();
                     currentBeatmapSkin = getBeatmapSkin();
                 });
             });
diff --git a/osu.Game/Database/RealmLive.cs b/osu.Game/Database/RealmLive.cs
index c376d5d503..4f7bdf93e4 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Database/RealmLive.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Database/RealmLive.cs
@@ -24,14 +24,22 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
         /// </summary>
         private readonly T data;
 
+        private readonly RealmContextFactory? realmFactory;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Construct a new instance of live realm data.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="data">The realm data.</param>
-        public RealmLive(T data)
+        /// <param name="realmFactory">The realm factory the data was sourced from. May be null for an unmanaged object.</param>
+        public RealmLive(T data, RealmContextFactory? realmFactory)
         {
             this.data = data;
 
+            if (IsManaged && realmFactory == null)
+                throw new ArgumentException(@"Realm factory must be provided for a managed instance", nameof(realmFactory));
+
+            this.realmFactory = realmFactory;
+
             ID = data.ID;
         }
 
@@ -47,7 +55,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
                 return;
             }
 
-            using (var realm = Realm.GetInstance(data.Realm.Config))
+            if (realmFactory == null)
+                throw new ArgumentException(@"Realm factory must be provided for a managed instance", nameof(realmFactory));
+
+            using (var realm = realmFactory.CreateContext())
                 perform(realm.Find<T>(ID));
         }
 
@@ -58,12 +69,15 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
         public TReturn PerformRead<TReturn>(Func<T, TReturn> perform)
         {
             if (typeof(RealmObjectBase).IsAssignableFrom(typeof(TReturn)))
-                throw new InvalidOperationException($"Realm live objects should not exit the scope of {nameof(PerformRead)}.");
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(@$"Realm live objects should not exit the scope of {nameof(PerformRead)}.");
 
             if (!IsManaged)
                 return perform(data);
 
-            using (var realm = Realm.GetInstance(data.Realm.Config))
+            if (realmFactory == null)
+                throw new ArgumentException(@"Realm factory must be provided for a managed instance", nameof(realmFactory));
+
+            using (var realm = realmFactory.CreateContext())
                 return perform(realm.Find<T>(ID));
         }
 
@@ -74,7 +88,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
         public void PerformWrite(Action<T> perform)
         {
             if (!IsManaged)
-                throw new InvalidOperationException("Can't perform writes on a non-managed underlying value");
+                throw new InvalidOperationException(@"Can't perform writes on a non-managed underlying value");
 
             PerformRead(t =>
             {
@@ -94,11 +108,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
                 if (!ThreadSafety.IsUpdateThread)
                     throw new InvalidOperationException($"Can't use {nameof(Value)} on managed objects from non-update threads");
 
-                // When using Value, we rely on garbage collection for the realm instance used to retrieve the instance.
-                // As we are sure that this is on the update thread, there should always be an open and constantly refreshing realm instance to ensure file size growth is a non-issue.
-                var realm = Realm.GetInstance(data.Realm.Config);
-
-                return realm.Find<T>(ID);
+                return realmFactory!.Context.Find<T>(ID);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Database/RealmObjectExtensions.cs b/osu.Game/Database/RealmObjectExtensions.cs
index b38e21453c..c546a70fae 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Database/RealmObjectExtensions.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Database/RealmObjectExtensions.cs
@@ -53,16 +53,28 @@ namespace osu.Game.Database
             return mapper.Map<T>(item);
         }
 
-        public static List<ILive<T>> ToLive<T>(this IEnumerable<T> realmList)
+        public static List<ILive<T>> ToLiveUnmanaged<T>(this IEnumerable<T> realmList)
             where T : RealmObject, IHasGuidPrimaryKey
         {
-            return realmList.Select(l => new RealmLive<T>(l)).Cast<ILive<T>>().ToList();
+            return realmList.Select(l => new RealmLive<T>(l, null)).Cast<ILive<T>>().ToList();
         }
 
-        public static ILive<T> ToLive<T>(this T realmObject)
+        public static ILive<T> ToLiveUnmanaged<T>(this T realmObject)
             where T : RealmObject, IHasGuidPrimaryKey
         {
-            return new RealmLive<T>(realmObject);
+            return new RealmLive<T>(realmObject, null);
+        }
+
+        public static List<ILive<T>> ToLive<T>(this IEnumerable<T> realmList, RealmContextFactory realmContextFactory)
+            where T : RealmObject, IHasGuidPrimaryKey
+        {
+            return realmList.Select(l => new RealmLive<T>(l, realmContextFactory)).Cast<ILive<T>>().ToList();
+        }
+
+        public static ILive<T> ToLive<T>(this T realmObject, RealmContextFactory realmContextFactory)
+            where T : RealmObject, IHasGuidPrimaryKey
+        {
+            return new RealmLive<T>(realmObject, realmContextFactory);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
index a35191613c..9c379de683 100644
--- a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
@@ -255,10 +255,10 @@ namespace osu.Game
                 if (skinInfo == null)
                 {
                     if (guid == SkinInfo.CLASSIC_SKIN)
-                        skinInfo = DefaultLegacySkin.CreateInfo().ToLive();
+                        skinInfo = DefaultLegacySkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged();
                 }
 
-                SkinManager.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = skinInfo ?? DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive();
+                SkinManager.CurrentSkinInfo.Value = skinInfo ?? DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged();
             };
             configSkin.TriggerChange();
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/SkinSection.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/SkinSection.cs
index b1582d7bee..0fa6d78d4b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/SkinSection.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/SkinSection.cs
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections
             Icon = FontAwesome.Solid.PaintBrush
         };
 
-        private readonly Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> dropdownBindable = new Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> { Default = DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive() };
+        private readonly Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> dropdownBindable = new Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> { Default = DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged() };
         private readonly Bindable<string> configBindable = new Bindable<string>();
 
         private static readonly ILive<SkinInfo> random_skin_info = new SkinInfo
         {
             ID = SkinInfo.RANDOM_SKIN,
             Name = "<Random Skin>",
-        }.ToLive();
+        }.ToLiveUnmanaged();
 
         private List<ILive<SkinInfo>> skinItems;
 
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections
         {
             int protectedCount = realmSkins.Count(s => s.Protected);
 
-            skinItems = realmSkins.ToLive();
+            skinItems = realmSkins.ToLive(realmFactory);
 
             skinItems.Insert(protectedCount, random_skin_info);
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs b/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
index 54fc2340f1..ee92b6b40a 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Skinning/Skin.cs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
 
         protected Skin(SkinInfo skin, IStorageResourceProvider resources, [CanBeNull] Stream configurationStream = null)
         {
-            SkinInfo = skin.ToLive();
+            SkinInfo = skin.ToLive(resources.RealmContextFactory);
             this.resources = resources;
 
             configurationStream ??= getConfigurationStream();
diff --git a/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinManager.cs b/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinManager.cs
index 5134632fb1..bb2f0a37b4 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Skinning/SkinManager.cs
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
 
         public readonly Bindable<Skin> CurrentSkin = new Bindable<Skin>();
 
-        public readonly Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> CurrentSkinInfo = new Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>>(Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive())
+        public readonly Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>> CurrentSkinInfo = new Bindable<ILive<SkinInfo>>(Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged())
         {
-            Default = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive()
+            Default = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged()
         };
 
         private readonly SkinModelManager skinModelManager;
@@ -119,13 +119,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
 
                 if (randomChoices.Length == 0)
                 {
-                    CurrentSkinInfo.Value = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive();
+                    CurrentSkinInfo.Value = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged();
                     return;
                 }
 
                 var chosen = randomChoices.ElementAt(RNG.Next(0, randomChoices.Length));
 
-                CurrentSkinInfo.Value = chosen.ToLive();
+                CurrentSkinInfo.Value = chosen.ToLive(contextFactory);
             }
         }
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
         public ILive<SkinInfo> Query(Expression<Func<SkinInfo, bool>> query)
         {
             using (var context = contextFactory.CreateContext())
-                return context.All<SkinInfo>().FirstOrDefault(query)?.ToLive();
+                return context.All<SkinInfo>().FirstOrDefault(query)?.ToLive(contextFactory);
         }
 
         public event Action SourceChanged;
@@ -237,6 +237,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
         AudioManager IStorageResourceProvider.AudioManager => audio;
         IResourceStore<byte[]> IStorageResourceProvider.Resources => resources;
         IResourceStore<byte[]> IStorageResourceProvider.Files => userFiles;
+        RealmContextFactory IStorageResourceProvider.RealmContextFactory => contextFactory;
         IResourceStore<TextureUpload> IStorageResourceProvider.CreateTextureLoaderStore(IResourceStore<byte[]> underlyingStore) => host.CreateTextureLoaderStore(underlyingStore);
 
         #endregion
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Skinning
                 Guid currentUserSkin = CurrentSkinInfo.Value.ID;
 
                 if (items.Any(s => s.ID == currentUserSkin))
-                    scheduler.Add(() => CurrentSkinInfo.Value = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLive());
+                    scheduler.Add(() => CurrentSkinInfo.Value = Skinning.DefaultSkin.CreateInfo().ToLiveUnmanaged());
 
                 skinModelManager.Delete(items.ToList(), silent);
             }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Stores/RealmArchiveModelImporter.cs b/osu.Game/Stores/RealmArchiveModelImporter.cs
index 1681dad750..4aca079e2e 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Stores/RealmArchiveModelImporter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Stores/RealmArchiveModelImporter.cs
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Stores
                                 transaction.Commit();
                             }
 
-                            return existing.ToLive();
+                            return existing.ToLive(ContextFactory);
                         }
 
                         LogForModel(item, @"Found existing (optimised) but failed pre-check.");
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Stores
                                 existing.DeletePending = false;
                                 transaction.Commit();
 
-                                return existing.ToLive();
+                                return existing.ToLive(ContextFactory);
                             }
 
                             LogForModel(item, @"Found existing but failed re-use check.");
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Stores
                     throw;
                 }
 
-                return item.ToLive();
+                return item.ToLive(ContextFactory);
             }
         }