diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
index b0899aa68004..784d14bba0ec 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
@@ -3725,6 +3725,9 @@ describe("update-cli", () => {
       },
       assert: () => {
         expect(getLogOutput()).toContain("OpenClaw update status");
+        expect(checkUpdateStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({ useDetachedDevUpstream: false }),
+        );
       },
     },
     {
@@ -3759,6 +3762,9 @@ describe("update-cli", () => {
     const channel = parsed.channel as { value?: unknown; config?: unknown };
     expect(channel.value).toBe("dev");
     expect(channel.config).toBe("dev");
+    expect(checkUpdateStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ useDetachedDevUpstream: true }),
+    );
   });
 
   it("parses update status --json as the subcommand option", async () => {
diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli/status.ts b/src/cli/update-cli/status.ts
index 5683354f7586..f93e444f3825 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli/status.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli/status.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ export async function updateStatusCommand(opts: UpdateStatusOptions): Promise<vo
     root,
     timeoutMs: timeoutMs ?? 3500,
     fetchGit: true,
+    useDetachedDevUpstream: configChannel === "dev",
     includeRegistry: true,
     resolveRegistryChannel: ({ installKind, git }) =>
       resolveStatusRegistryUpdateChannel({
diff --git a/src/infra/update-channels.ts b/src/infra/update-channels.ts
index 83c4c344e33b..2c13f2ac30d2 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-channels.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-channels.ts
@@ -25,12 +25,12 @@ export const UPDATE_EFFECTIVE_CHANNEL_ENV = "OPENCLAW_UPDATE_EFFECTIVE_CHANNEL";
 /** Git branch that represents the development update stream. */
 export const DEV_BRANCH = "main";
 
-/** Resolves current tracking, or the configured Dev branch for detached HEAD. */
-export function resolveDevUpstreamRef(branch?: string | null, detached = false): string | null {
-  if (branch !== "HEAD") {
-    return "@{upstream}";
-  }
-  return detached ? `${DEV_BRANCH}@{upstream}` : null;
+/** Orders the configured Dev upstream before any detached-checkout fallbacks. */
+export function resolveDevUpstreamRefs(
+  detached: boolean,
+  fallbacks: readonly string[] = [],
+): string[] {
+  return detached ? [`${DEV_BRANCH}@{upstream}`, ...fallbacks] : ["@{upstream}"];
 }
 
 /** Normalizes config or CLI channel input to a supported update channel. */
diff --git a/src/infra/update-check-status.test.ts b/src/infra/update-check-status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e70005eb95ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/infra/update-check-status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,569 @@
+// Covers install, dependency, and Git update status.
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { runCommandWithTimeout } from "../process/exec.js";
+import { withTestDir } from "../test-helpers/temp-dir.js";
+import { withEnvAsync } from "../test-utils/env.js";
+import { checkUpdateStatus } from "./update-check.js";
+
+async function runGit(cwd: string, ...args: string[]): Promise<string> {
+  const result = await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", ...args], { cwd, timeoutMs: 5000 });
+  if (result.code !== 0) {
+    throw new Error(result.stderr || `git ${args.join(" ")} failed`);
+  }
+  return result.stdout.trim();
+}
+
+async function initGitRepo(root: string): Promise<void> {
+  await fs.mkdir(root, { recursive: true });
+  await runGit(root, "init", "--initial-branch=main");
+  await runGit(root, "config", "user.name", "OpenClaw Test");
+  await runGit(root, "config", "user.email", "test@openclaw.invalid");
+}
+
+async function commitGit(root: string, message: string): Promise<void> {
+  await runGit(root, "commit", "--allow-empty", "--message", message);
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+describe("checkUpdateStatus", () => {
+  it("fetches a retained main upstream whose remote nickname contains a slash", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-slash-remote-" }, async (base) => {
+      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
+      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
+      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "base");
+      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", sourceRoot, localRoot);
+      const detachedSha = await runGit(localRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "add", "foo/bar", sourceRoot);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "fetch", "foo/bar", "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/foo/bar/main");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--set-upstream-to=foo/bar/main", "main");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "--detach", detachedSha);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "set-url", "origin", path.join(base, "missing"));
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "newer");
+      const upstreamSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root: localRoot,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: true,
+        timeoutMs: 5000,
+        useDetachedDevUpstream: true,
+      });
+
+      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
+        branch: "HEAD",
+        sha: detachedSha,
+        upstream: "foo/bar/main",
+        upstreamSource: "tracking",
+        upstreamSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 1,
+        fetchOk: true,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("prefers a retained main branch's configured non-origin upstream", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-configured-upstream-" }, async (base) => {
+      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
+      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
+      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "base");
+      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", sourceRoot, localRoot);
+      const detachedSha = await runGit(localRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "add", "upstream", sourceRoot);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "fetch", "upstream", "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/upstream/main");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--set-upstream-to=upstream/main", "main");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "--detach", detachedSha);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "set-url", "origin", path.join(base, "missing"));
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "newer");
+      const upstreamSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root: localRoot,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: true,
+        timeoutMs: 5000,
+        useDetachedDevUpstream: true,
+      });
+
+      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
+        branch: "HEAD",
+        sha: detachedSha,
+        upstream: "upstream/main",
+        upstreamSource: "tracking",
+        upstreamSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 1,
+        fetchOk: true,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("resolves manager-style detached dev tracking before matching update receipts", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-receipt-fallback-" }, async (base) => {
+      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
+      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
+      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(sourceRoot, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@10.0.0" }),
+      );
+      await runGit(sourceRoot, "add", "package.json");
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "base");
+      const baseSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "target");
+      const targetSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", "--no-checkout", sourceRoot, localRoot);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "--detach", targetSha);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "-D", "main");
+      expect(await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--list", "main")).toBe("");
+      const fallback = { currentSha: targetSha, upstreamRef: "origin/main" };
+      const readStatus = (
+        params: { fetch?: boolean; fallback?: typeof fallback; detached?: boolean } = {},
+      ) =>
+        checkUpdateStatus({
+          root: localRoot,
+          includeRegistry: false,
+          fetchGit: params.fetch ?? false,
+          timeoutMs: 5000,
+          useDetachedDevUpstream: params.detached ?? true,
+          ...(params.fallback ? { gitUpstreamFallback: params.fallback } : {}),
+        });
+
+      expect((await readStatus({ fetch: true })).git).toMatchObject({
+        branch: "HEAD",
+        sha: targetSha,
+        upstream: "origin/main",
+        upstreamSource: "tracking",
+        upstreamSha: targetSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 0,
+        fetchOk: true,
+      });
+
+      const current = await readStatus({ fetch: true, fallback, detached: false });
+      expect(current.git).toMatchObject({
+        branch: "HEAD",
+        sha: targetSha,
+        upstream: "origin/main",
+        upstreamSource: "receipt",
+        upstreamSha: targetSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 0,
+      });
+
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "newer");
+      const newerSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
+      expect((await readStatus({ fetch: true })).git).toMatchObject({
+        upstream: "origin/main",
+        upstreamSource: "tracking",
+        upstreamSha: newerSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 1,
+        fetchOk: true,
+      });
+      const behind = await readStatus({ fetch: true, fallback, detached: false });
+      expect(behind.git).toMatchObject({
+        upstreamSource: "receipt",
+        upstreamSha: newerSha,
+        ahead: 0,
+        behind: 1,
+      });
+
+      for (const fallbackOverride of [undefined, { ...fallback, currentSha: baseSha }]) {
+        const unmanaged = await readStatus({ fallback: fallbackOverride, detached: false });
+        expect(unmanaged.git).toMatchObject({ branch: "HEAD", upstream: null });
+        expect(unmanaged.git).not.toHaveProperty("upstreamSource");
+      }
+
+      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "-b", "receipt-collision", targetSha);
+      const namedBranch = await readStatus({ fallback });
+      expect(namedBranch.git).toMatchObject({
+        branch: "receipt-collision",
+        sha: targetSha,
+        upstream: null,
+        upstreamSha: null,
+        ahead: null,
+        behind: null,
+      });
+      expect(namedBranch.git).not.toHaveProperty("upstreamSource");
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not treat stale remote refs as current when fetch fails", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-fetch-failure-" }, async (base) => {
+      const remoteRoot = path.join(base, "remote");
+      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
+      await initGitRepo(remoteRoot);
+      await commitGit(remoteRoot, "initial");
+      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", remoteRoot, localRoot);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "set-url", "origin", path.join(base, "missing"));
+      const commitAtMs =
+        Number(await runGit(localRoot, "show", "-s", "--format=%ct", "HEAD")) * 1000;
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root: localRoot,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: true,
+        timeoutMs: 5000,
+      });
+
+      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
+        upstream: "origin/main",
+        upstreamSha: null,
+        commitAtMs,
+        ahead: null,
+        behind: null,
+        fetchOk: false,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not report divergence for unrelated histories", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-unrelated-" }, async (base) => {
+      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
+      const remoteRoot = path.join(base, "remote");
+      await initGitRepo(localRoot);
+      await commitGit(localRoot, "local history");
+      await initGitRepo(remoteRoot);
+      await commitGit(remoteRoot, "remote history");
+
+      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "add", "origin", remoteRoot);
+      await runGit(localRoot, "fetch", "origin", "main");
+      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--set-upstream-to=origin/main", "main");
+
+      const mergeBase = await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "merge-base", "HEAD", "origin/main"], {
+        cwd: localRoot,
+        timeoutMs: 5000,
+      });
+      expect(mergeBase.code).toBe(1);
+      expect(
+        await runGit(localRoot, "rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "HEAD...origin/main"),
+      ).toMatch(/^1\s+1$/u);
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root: localRoot,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 5000,
+      });
+      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
+        upstream: "origin/main",
+        ahead: null,
+        behind: null,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("reports divergence only when shallow history retains a merge base", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-shallow-" }, async (base) => {
+      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
+      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "common base");
+      await runGit(sourceRoot, "switch", "--create", "feature");
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "feature change");
+      await runGit(sourceRoot, "switch", "main");
+      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "main change");
+      const mainSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "main");
+
+      const cloneDivergedHistory = async (name: string, depth?: number) => {
+        const cloneRoot = path.join(base, name);
+        const depthArgs = depth ? [`--depth=${depth}`] : [];
+        await runGit(
+          base,
+          "clone",
+          "--quiet",
+          ...depthArgs,
+          "--branch",
+          "feature",
+          pathToFileURL(sourceRoot).href,
+          cloneRoot,
+        );
+        await runGit(
+          cloneRoot,
+          "fetch",
+          "--quiet",
+          ...(depth ? [`--depth=${depth}`] : []),
+          "origin",
+          "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main",
+        );
+        await runGit(
+          cloneRoot,
+          "config",
+          "--add",
+          "remote.origin.fetch",
+          "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main",
+        );
+        await runGit(cloneRoot, "config", "branch.feature.remote", "origin");
+        await runGit(cloneRoot, "config", "branch.feature.merge", "refs/heads/main");
+        return cloneRoot;
+      };
+
+      const readDivergence = async (root: string) => {
+        const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+          root,
+          includeRegistry: false,
+          fetchGit: false,
+          timeoutMs: 5000,
+        });
+        return {
+          ahead: status.git?.ahead,
+          behind: status.git?.behind,
+          upstreamSha: status.git?.upstreamSha,
+        };
+      };
+
+      const fullRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("full");
+      await expect(readDivergence(fullRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
+        ahead: 1,
+        behind: 1,
+        upstreamSha: mainSha,
+      });
+      await runGit(fullRoot, "remote", "rename", "--", "origin", "-dash");
+      expect(await runGit(fullRoot, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "@{upstream}")).toBe("-dash/main");
+      await expect(readDivergence(fullRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
+        ahead: 1,
+        behind: 1,
+        upstreamSha: mainSha,
+      });
+
+      const truncatedRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("shallow-depth-1", 1);
+      await expect(readDivergence(truncatedRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
+        ahead: null,
+        behind: null,
+        upstreamSha: mainSha,
+      });
+
+      const comparableRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("shallow-depth-2", 2);
+      await expect(readDivergence(comparableRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
+        ahead: 1,
+        behind: 1,
+        upstreamSha: mainSha,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("returns unknown install status when root is missing", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      checkUpdateStatus({ root: null, includeRegistry: false, timeoutMs: 1000 }),
+    ).resolves.toEqual({
+      root: null,
+      installKind: "unknown",
+      packageManager: "unknown",
+      registry: undefined,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("detects package installs for non-git roots", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-" }, async (root) => {
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(root, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ packageManager: "npm@10.0.0" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, "package-lock.json"), "lock", "utf8");
+      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 1000,
+      });
+      expect(status.root).toBe(root);
+      expect(status.installKind).toBe("package");
+      expect(status.packageManager).toBe("npm");
+      expect(status.git).toBeUndefined();
+      expect(status.registry).toBeUndefined();
+      expect(status.deps?.manager).toBe("npm");
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("resolves a status registry channel after detecting the install kind", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-registry-channel-" }, async (root) => {
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(root, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ packageManager: "npm@10.0.0" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, "package-lock.json"), "lock", "utf8");
+      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
+      const resolveRegistryChannel = vi.fn(() => "extended-stable" as const);
+
+      await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        resolveRegistryChannel,
+      });
+
+      expect(resolveRegistryChannel).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+        installKind: "package",
+        git: undefined,
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: "text lockfile",
+      lockfiles: ["bun.lock"],
+      expectedLockfile: "bun.lock",
+    },
+    {
+      name: "binary lockfile",
+      lockfiles: ["bun.lockb"],
+      expectedLockfile: "bun.lockb",
+    },
+    {
+      name: "text lockfile when both formats exist",
+      lockfiles: ["bun.lock", "bun.lockb"],
+      expectedLockfile: "bun.lock",
+    },
+  ])("reports dependency status for Bun's $name", async ({ lockfiles, expectedLockfile }) => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-bun-" }, async (root) => {
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(root, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "bun@1.2.0" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      for (const lockfile of lockfiles) {
+        await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, lockfile), "lock", "utf8");
+      }
+      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 1000,
+      });
+
+      expect(status).toMatchObject({
+        installKind: "package",
+        packageManager: "bun",
+        deps: {
+          manager: "bun",
+          lockfilePath: path.join(root, expectedLockfile),
+          markerPath: path.join(root, "node_modules"),
+          status: "ok",
+        },
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it.each([
+    { manager: "npm", expectedLockfile: "package-lock.json" },
+    { manager: "bun", expectedLockfile: "bun.lockb" },
+  ])(
+    "detects lockless OpenClaw $manager installs despite packed pnpm metadata",
+    async ({ manager, expectedLockfile }) => {
+      await withTestDir({ prefix: `openclaw-update-check-lockless-${manager}-` }, async (base) => {
+        const bunInstall = path.join(base, "custom-bun-home");
+        const root =
+          manager === "bun"
+            ? path.join(bunInstall, "install", "global", "node_modules", "openclaw")
+            : path.join(base, "prefix", "node_modules", "openclaw");
+        await fs.mkdir(root, { recursive: true });
+        await fs.writeFile(
+          path.join(root, "package.json"),
+          JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@11.2.2" }),
+          "utf8",
+        );
+
+        await withEnvAsync({ BUN_INSTALL: bunInstall }, async () => {
+          const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+            root,
+            includeRegistry: false,
+            fetchGit: false,
+            timeoutMs: 1000,
+          });
+
+          expect(status.installKind).toBe("package");
+          expect(status.packageManager).toBe(manager);
+          expect(status.deps).toMatchObject({
+            manager,
+            lockfilePath: path.join(root, expectedLockfile),
+            status: "unknown",
+            reason: "lockfile missing",
+          });
+        });
+      });
+    },
+  );
+
+  it("reports a missing dependency marker and accepts an older valid marker", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-deps-" }, async (root) => {
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(root, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@11.2.2" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      const lockfilePath = path.join(root, "pnpm-lock.yaml");
+      await fs.writeFile(lockfilePath, "lock", "utf8");
+
+      const missing = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 1000,
+      });
+      expect(missing.deps).toMatchObject({
+        manager: "pnpm",
+        status: "missing",
+        reason: "node_modules marker missing",
+      });
+
+      const markerPath = path.join(root, "node_modules", ".modules.yaml");
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(markerPath), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(markerPath, "marker", "utf8");
+      const staleDate = new Date(Date.now() - 10_000);
+      const freshDate = new Date();
+      await fs.utimes(markerPath, staleDate, staleDate);
+      await fs.utimes(lockfilePath, freshDate, freshDate);
+
+      const installed = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 1000,
+      });
+      expect(installed.deps).toMatchObject({
+        manager: "pnpm",
+        status: "ok",
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("treats symlinked git installs as git roots", async () => {
+    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-git-" }, async (base) => {
+      const repoRoot = path.join(base, "repo");
+      const linkedRoot = path.join(base, "linked-openclaw");
+      await fs.mkdir(repoRoot, { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(
+        path.join(repoRoot, "package.json"),
+        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@10.0.0" }),
+        "utf8",
+      );
+      await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "init"], { cwd: repoRoot, timeoutMs: 1000 });
+      await fs.symlink(repoRoot, linkedRoot);
+
+      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
+        root: linkedRoot,
+        includeRegistry: false,
+        fetchGit: false,
+        timeoutMs: 1000,
+      });
+      expect(status.root).toBe(linkedRoot);
+      expect(status.installKind).toBe("git");
+      expect(status.git?.root).toBe(linkedRoot);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/infra/update-check.test.ts b/src/infra/update-check.test.ts
index 02f60bf89f44..44683e86598a 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-check.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-check.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
-// Covers update status, dependency status, and registry fetch helpers.
+// Covers update version resolution, Git install labels, and registry fetch helpers.
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import http from "node:http";
 import type { AddressInfo } from "node:net";
 import path from "node:path";
-import { pathToFileURL } from "node:url";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { runCommandWithTimeout } from "../process/exec.js";
 import { withTestDir } from "../test-helpers/temp-dir.js";
-import { withEnvAsync } from "../test-utils/env.js";
 import { useMockHttp } from "../test-utils/mock-http.js";
 import { fetchNpmPackageTargetStatus } from "./update-check-package-target.js";
 import {
@@ -21,25 +19,6 @@ import {
 
 const mockHttp = useMockHttp();
 
-async function runGit(cwd: string, ...args: string[]): Promise<string> {
-  const result = await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", ...args], { cwd, timeoutMs: 5000 });
-  if (result.code !== 0) {
-    throw new Error(result.stderr || `git ${args.join(" ")} failed`);
-  }
-  return result.stdout.trim();
-}
-
-async function initGitRepo(root: string): Promise<void> {
-  await fs.mkdir(root, { recursive: true });
-  await runGit(root, "init", "--initial-branch=main");
-  await runGit(root, "config", "user.name", "OpenClaw Test");
-  await runGit(root, "config", "user.email", "test@openclaw.invalid");
-}
-
-async function commitGit(root: string, message: string): Promise<void> {
-  await runGit(root, "commit", "--allow-empty", "--message", message);
-}
-
 afterEach(() => {
   vi.restoreAllMocks();
 });
@@ -626,449 +605,7 @@ describe("formatGitInstallLabel", () => {
   });
 });
 
-describe("checkUpdateStatus", () => {
-  it("resolves detached dev tracking before matching update receipts", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-receipt-fallback-" }, async (base) => {
-      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
-      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
-      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(sourceRoot, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@10.0.0" }),
-      );
-      await runGit(sourceRoot, "add", "package.json");
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "base");
-      const baseSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "target");
-      const targetSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
-      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", sourceRoot, localRoot);
-      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "--detach", targetSha);
-      const fallback = { currentSha: targetSha, upstreamRef: "origin/main" };
-      const readStatus = (params: { fetch?: boolean; fallback?: typeof fallback } = {}) =>
-        checkUpdateStatus({
-          root: localRoot,
-          includeRegistry: false,
-          fetchGit: params.fetch ?? false,
-          timeoutMs: 5000,
-          useDetachedDevUpstream: true,
-          ...(params.fallback ? { gitUpstreamFallback: params.fallback } : {}),
-        });
-
-      expect((await readStatus()).git?.upstream).toBe("origin/main");
-      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--unset-upstream", "main");
-      expect((await readStatus()).git?.upstream).toBeNull();
-
-      const current = await readStatus({ fetch: true, fallback });
-      expect(current.git).toMatchObject({
-        branch: "HEAD",
-        sha: targetSha,
-        upstream: "origin/main",
-        upstreamSource: "receipt",
-        upstreamSha: targetSha,
-        ahead: 0,
-        behind: 0,
-      });
-
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "newer");
-      const newerSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "HEAD");
-      const behind = await readStatus({ fetch: true, fallback });
-      expect(behind.git).toMatchObject({
-        upstreamSource: "receipt",
-        upstreamSha: newerSha,
-        ahead: 0,
-        behind: 1,
-      });
-
-      for (const fallbackOverride of [undefined, { ...fallback, currentSha: baseSha }]) {
-        const unmanaged = await readStatus({ fallback: fallbackOverride });
-        expect(unmanaged.git).toMatchObject({ branch: "HEAD", upstream: null });
-        expect(unmanaged.git).not.toHaveProperty("upstreamSource");
-      }
-
-      await runGit(localRoot, "checkout", "-b", "receipt-collision", targetSha);
-      const namedBranch = await readStatus({ fallback });
-      expect(namedBranch.git).toMatchObject({
-        branch: "receipt-collision",
-        sha: targetSha,
-        upstream: null,
-        upstreamSha: null,
-        ahead: null,
-        behind: null,
-      });
-      expect(namedBranch.git).not.toHaveProperty("upstreamSource");
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("does not treat stale remote refs as current when fetch fails", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-fetch-failure-" }, async (base) => {
-      const remoteRoot = path.join(base, "remote");
-      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
-      await initGitRepo(remoteRoot);
-      await commitGit(remoteRoot, "initial");
-      await runGit(base, "clone", "--quiet", remoteRoot, localRoot);
-      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "set-url", "origin", path.join(base, "missing"));
-      const commitAtMs =
-        Number(await runGit(localRoot, "show", "-s", "--format=%ct", "HEAD")) * 1000;
-
-      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root: localRoot,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: true,
-        timeoutMs: 5000,
-      });
-
-      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
-        upstream: "origin/main",
-        upstreamSha: null,
-        commitAtMs,
-        ahead: null,
-        behind: null,
-        fetchOk: false,
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("does not report divergence for unrelated histories", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-unrelated-" }, async (base) => {
-      const localRoot = path.join(base, "local");
-      const remoteRoot = path.join(base, "remote");
-      await initGitRepo(localRoot);
-      await commitGit(localRoot, "local history");
-      await initGitRepo(remoteRoot);
-      await commitGit(remoteRoot, "remote history");
-
-      await runGit(localRoot, "remote", "add", "origin", remoteRoot);
-      await runGit(localRoot, "fetch", "origin", "main");
-      await runGit(localRoot, "branch", "--set-upstream-to=origin/main", "main");
-
-      const mergeBase = await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "merge-base", "HEAD", "origin/main"], {
-        cwd: localRoot,
-        timeoutMs: 5000,
-      });
-      expect(mergeBase.code).toBe(1);
-      expect(
-        await runGit(localRoot, "rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "HEAD...origin/main"),
-      ).toMatch(/^1\s+1$/u);
-
-      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root: localRoot,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 5000,
-      });
-      expect(status.git).toMatchObject({
-        upstream: "origin/main",
-        ahead: null,
-        behind: null,
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("reports divergence only when shallow history retains a merge base", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-shallow-" }, async (base) => {
-      const sourceRoot = path.join(base, "source");
-      await initGitRepo(sourceRoot);
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "common base");
-      await runGit(sourceRoot, "switch", "--create", "feature");
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "feature change");
-      await runGit(sourceRoot, "switch", "main");
-      await commitGit(sourceRoot, "main change");
-      const mainSha = await runGit(sourceRoot, "rev-parse", "main");
-
-      const cloneDivergedHistory = async (name: string, depth?: number) => {
-        const cloneRoot = path.join(base, name);
-        const depthArgs = depth ? [`--depth=${depth}`] : [];
-        await runGit(
-          base,
-          "clone",
-          "--quiet",
-          ...depthArgs,
-          "--branch",
-          "feature",
-          pathToFileURL(sourceRoot).href,
-          cloneRoot,
-        );
-        await runGit(
-          cloneRoot,
-          "fetch",
-          "--quiet",
-          ...(depth ? [`--depth=${depth}`] : []),
-          "origin",
-          "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main",
-        );
-        await runGit(
-          cloneRoot,
-          "config",
-          "--add",
-          "remote.origin.fetch",
-          "+refs/heads/main:refs/remotes/origin/main",
-        );
-        await runGit(cloneRoot, "config", "branch.feature.remote", "origin");
-        await runGit(cloneRoot, "config", "branch.feature.merge", "refs/heads/main");
-        return cloneRoot;
-      };
-
-      const readDivergence = async (root: string) => {
-        const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-          root,
-          includeRegistry: false,
-          fetchGit: false,
-          timeoutMs: 5000,
-        });
-        return {
-          ahead: status.git?.ahead,
-          behind: status.git?.behind,
-          upstreamSha: status.git?.upstreamSha,
-        };
-      };
-
-      const fullRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("full");
-      await expect(readDivergence(fullRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
-        ahead: 1,
-        behind: 1,
-        upstreamSha: mainSha,
-      });
-      await runGit(fullRoot, "remote", "rename", "--", "origin", "-dash");
-      expect(await runGit(fullRoot, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "@{upstream}")).toBe("-dash/main");
-      await expect(readDivergence(fullRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
-        ahead: 1,
-        behind: 1,
-        upstreamSha: mainSha,
-      });
-
-      const truncatedRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("shallow-depth-1", 1);
-      await expect(readDivergence(truncatedRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
-        ahead: null,
-        behind: null,
-        upstreamSha: mainSha,
-      });
-
-      const comparableRoot = await cloneDivergedHistory("shallow-depth-2", 2);
-      await expect(readDivergence(comparableRoot)).resolves.toEqual({
-        ahead: 1,
-        behind: 1,
-        upstreamSha: mainSha,
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("returns unknown install status when root is missing", async () => {
-    await expect(
-      checkUpdateStatus({ root: null, includeRegistry: false, timeoutMs: 1000 }),
-    ).resolves.toEqual({
-      root: null,
-      installKind: "unknown",
-      packageManager: "unknown",
-      registry: undefined,
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("detects package installs for non-git roots", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-" }, async (root) => {
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(root, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ packageManager: "npm@10.0.0" }),
-        "utf8",
-      );
-      await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, "package-lock.json"), "lock", "utf8");
-      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
-
-      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 1000,
-      });
-      expect(status.root).toBe(root);
-      expect(status.installKind).toBe("package");
-      expect(status.packageManager).toBe("npm");
-      expect(status.git).toBeUndefined();
-      expect(status.registry).toBeUndefined();
-      expect(status.deps?.manager).toBe("npm");
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("resolves a status registry channel after detecting the install kind", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-registry-channel-" }, async (root) => {
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(root, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ packageManager: "npm@10.0.0" }),
-        "utf8",
-      );
-      await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, "package-lock.json"), "lock", "utf8");
-      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
-      const resolveRegistryChannel = vi.fn(() => "extended-stable" as const);
-
-      await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        resolveRegistryChannel,
-      });
-
-      expect(resolveRegistryChannel).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
-        installKind: "package",
-        git: undefined,
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it.each([
-    {
-      name: "text lockfile",
-      lockfiles: ["bun.lock"],
-      expectedLockfile: "bun.lock",
-    },
-    {
-      name: "binary lockfile",
-      lockfiles: ["bun.lockb"],
-      expectedLockfile: "bun.lockb",
-    },
-    {
-      name: "text lockfile when both formats exist",
-      lockfiles: ["bun.lock", "bun.lockb"],
-      expectedLockfile: "bun.lock",
-    },
-  ])("reports dependency status for Bun's $name", async ({ lockfiles, expectedLockfile }) => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-bun-" }, async (root) => {
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(root, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "bun@1.2.0" }),
-        "utf8",
-      );
-      for (const lockfile of lockfiles) {
-        await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, lockfile), "lock", "utf8");
-      }
-      await fs.mkdir(path.join(root, "node_modules"), { recursive: true });
-
-      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 1000,
-      });
-
-      expect(status).toMatchObject({
-        installKind: "package",
-        packageManager: "bun",
-        deps: {
-          manager: "bun",
-          lockfilePath: path.join(root, expectedLockfile),
-          markerPath: path.join(root, "node_modules"),
-          status: "ok",
-        },
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it.each([
-    { manager: "npm", expectedLockfile: "package-lock.json" },
-    { manager: "bun", expectedLockfile: "bun.lockb" },
-  ])(
-    "detects lockless OpenClaw $manager installs despite packed pnpm metadata",
-    async ({ manager, expectedLockfile }) => {
-      await withTestDir({ prefix: `openclaw-update-check-lockless-${manager}-` }, async (base) => {
-        const bunInstall = path.join(base, "custom-bun-home");
-        const root =
-          manager === "bun"
-            ? path.join(bunInstall, "install", "global", "node_modules", "openclaw")
-            : path.join(base, "prefix", "node_modules", "openclaw");
-        await fs.mkdir(root, { recursive: true });
-        await fs.writeFile(
-          path.join(root, "package.json"),
-          JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@11.2.2" }),
-          "utf8",
-        );
-
-        await withEnvAsync({ BUN_INSTALL: bunInstall }, async () => {
-          const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-            root,
-            includeRegistry: false,
-            fetchGit: false,
-            timeoutMs: 1000,
-          });
-
-          expect(status.installKind).toBe("package");
-          expect(status.packageManager).toBe(manager);
-          expect(status.deps).toMatchObject({
-            manager,
-            lockfilePath: path.join(root, expectedLockfile),
-            status: "unknown",
-            reason: "lockfile missing",
-          });
-        });
-      });
-    },
-  );
-
-  it("reports a missing dependency marker and accepts an older valid marker", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-deps-" }, async (root) => {
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(root, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@11.2.2" }),
-        "utf8",
-      );
-      const lockfilePath = path.join(root, "pnpm-lock.yaml");
-      await fs.writeFile(lockfilePath, "lock", "utf8");
-
-      const missing = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 1000,
-      });
-      expect(missing.deps).toMatchObject({
-        manager: "pnpm",
-        status: "missing",
-        reason: "node_modules marker missing",
-      });
-
-      const markerPath = path.join(root, "node_modules", ".modules.yaml");
-      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(markerPath), { recursive: true });
-      await fs.writeFile(markerPath, "marker", "utf8");
-      const staleDate = new Date(Date.now() - 10_000);
-      const freshDate = new Date();
-      await fs.utimes(markerPath, staleDate, staleDate);
-      await fs.utimes(lockfilePath, freshDate, freshDate);
-
-      const installed = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 1000,
-      });
-      expect(installed.deps).toMatchObject({
-        manager: "pnpm",
-        status: "ok",
-      });
-    });
-  });
-
-  it("treats symlinked git installs as git roots", async () => {
-    await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-git-" }, async (base) => {
-      const repoRoot = path.join(base, "repo");
-      const linkedRoot = path.join(base, "linked-openclaw");
-      await fs.mkdir(repoRoot, { recursive: true });
-      await fs.writeFile(
-        path.join(repoRoot, "package.json"),
-        JSON.stringify({ name: "openclaw", packageManager: "pnpm@10.0.0" }),
-        "utf8",
-      );
-      await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "init"], { cwd: repoRoot, timeoutMs: 1000 });
-      await fs.symlink(repoRoot, linkedRoot);
-
-      const status = await checkUpdateStatus({
-        root: linkedRoot,
-        includeRegistry: false,
-        fetchGit: false,
-        timeoutMs: 1000,
-      });
-      expect(status.root).toBe(linkedRoot);
-      expect(status.installKind).toBe("git");
-      expect(status.git?.root).toBe(linkedRoot);
-    });
-  });
-
+describe("checkUpdateStatus registry behavior", () => {
   it("reports unsupported_git_channel for Git status without querying npm", async () => {
     await withTestDir({ prefix: "openclaw-update-check-git-channel-" }, async (root) => {
       await fs.writeFile(
diff --git a/src/infra/update-check.ts b/src/infra/update-check.ts
index 0fdff3fbca42..e71ea9c09577 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-check.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-check.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@ import {
 } from "./detect-package-manager.js";
 import { compareOpenClawReleaseVersions } from "./npm-registry-spec.js";
 import { compareValidSemver, normalizeLegacyDotBetaVersion } from "./semver.js";
-import { channelToNpmTag, resolveDevUpstreamRef, type UpdateChannel } from "./update-channels.js";
+import {
+  channelToNpmTag,
+  DEV_BRANCH,
+  resolveDevUpstreamRefs,
+  type UpdateChannel,
+} from "./update-channels.js";
 import {
   fetchNpmPackageTargetStatus,
   type NpmMetadataCommandRunner,
@@ -34,6 +39,12 @@ type GitUpdateStatus = {
   error?: string;
 };
 
+type GitTrackingTarget = {
+  revision: string;
+  display: string;
+  fetch: "prune" | { remote: string; mergeRef: string };
+};
+
 type DepsStatus = {
   manager: PackageManager;
   status: "ok" | "missing" | "unknown";
@@ -234,6 +245,12 @@ async function checkGitUpdateStatus(params: {
 }): Promise<GitUpdateStatus> {
   const timeoutMs = params.timeoutMs ?? 6000;
   const root = path.resolve(params.root);
+  const runGit = (...args: string[]) =>
+    runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, ...args], { timeoutMs }).catch(() => null);
+  const readGit = async (...args: string[]) => {
+    const result = await runGit(...args);
+    return result?.code === 0 ? result.stdout.trim() || null : null;
+  };
 
   const base: GitUpdateStatus = {
     root,
@@ -249,56 +266,60 @@ async function checkGitUpdateStatus(params: {
     fetchOk: null,
   };
 
-  const [branchRes, shaRes, commitAtRes, tagRes, dirtyRes] = await Promise.all([
-    runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"], {
-      timeoutMs,
-    }).catch(() => null),
-    runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "rev-parse", "HEAD"], {
-      timeoutMs,
-    }).catch(() => null),
-    runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "show", "-s", "--format=%ct", "HEAD"], {
-      timeoutMs,
-    }).catch(() => null),
-    runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "describe", "--tags", "--exact-match"], {
-      timeoutMs,
-    }).catch(() => null),
-    runCommandWithTimeout(
-      ["git", "-C", root, "status", "--porcelain", "--", ":!dist/control-ui/"],
-      {
-        timeoutMs,
-      },
-    ).catch(() => null),
+  const [branchRes, sha, commitAtRaw, tag, dirtyRes] = await Promise.all([
+    runGit("rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "HEAD"),
+    readGit("rev-parse", "HEAD"),
+    readGit("show", "-s", "--format=%ct", "HEAD"),
+    readGit("describe", "--tags", "--exact-match"),
+    runGit("status", "--porcelain", "--", ":!dist/control-ui/"),
   ]);
   if (!branchRes || branchRes.code !== 0) {
     return { ...base, error: branchRes?.stderr?.trim() || "git unavailable" };
   }
   const branch = branchRes.stdout.trim() || null;
-  const trackingRevision = resolveDevUpstreamRef(branch, params.useDetachedDevUpstream);
-  const upstreamRes = trackingRevision
-    ? await runCommandWithTimeout(
-        ["git", "-C", root, "rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "--symbolic-full-name", trackingRevision],
-        { timeoutMs },
-      ).catch(() => null)
-    : null;
+  const trackingRevisions =
+    branch === "HEAD"
+      ? params.useDetachedDevUpstream
+        ? resolveDevUpstreamRefs(true, [`refs/remotes/origin/${DEV_BRANCH}`])
+        : []
+      : resolveDevUpstreamRefs(false);
+  let tracking: GitTrackingTarget | null = null;
+  for (const revision of trackingRevisions) {
+    const display = await readGit("rev-parse", "--abbrev-ref", "--symbolic-full-name", revision);
+    if (!display) {
+      continue;
+    }
+    let fetch: GitTrackingTarget["fetch"] = "prune";
+    if (branch === "HEAD") {
+      if (revision === `${DEV_BRANCH}@{upstream}`) {
+        const [remote, mergeRef] = await Promise.all([
+          readGit("config", "--get", `branch.${DEV_BRANCH}.remote`),
+          readGit("config", "--get", `branch.${DEV_BRANCH}.merge`),
+        ]);
+        if (!remote || !mergeRef) {
+          continue;
+        }
+        fetch = { remote, mergeRef };
+      } else {
+        fetch = { remote: "origin", mergeRef: `refs/heads/${DEV_BRANCH}` };
+      }
+    }
+    tracking = { revision, display, fetch };
+    break;
+  }
 
-  const sha = shaRes && shaRes.code === 0 ? shaRes.stdout.trim() : null;
-  const commitAtSeconds =
-    commitAtRes?.code === 0 ? Number.parseInt(commitAtRes.stdout.trim(), 10) : Number.NaN;
+  const commitAtSeconds = Number.parseInt(commitAtRaw ?? "", 10);
   const commitAtMs = Number.isSafeInteger(commitAtSeconds) ? commitAtSeconds * 1000 : null;
 
-  const tag = tagRes && tagRes.code === 0 ? tagRes.stdout.trim() : null;
-
-  const trackingUpstream =
-    upstreamRes && upstreamRes.code === 0 ? upstreamRes.stdout.trim() || null : null;
   const receiptUpstream =
-    !trackingUpstream &&
+    !tracking &&
     branch === "HEAD" &&
     sha &&
     params.upstreamFallback?.currentSha.trim().toLowerCase() === sha.toLowerCase()
       ? params.upstreamFallback.upstreamRef.trim() || null
       : null;
-  const upstream = trackingUpstream ?? receiptUpstream;
-  const upstreamSource = trackingUpstream
+  const upstream = tracking?.display ?? receiptUpstream;
+  const upstreamSource = tracking
     ? ("tracking" as const)
     : receiptUpstream
       ? ("receipt" as const)
@@ -306,53 +327,32 @@ async function checkGitUpdateStatus(params: {
 
   const dirty = dirtyRes && dirtyRes.code === 0 ? dirtyRes.stdout.trim().length > 0 : null;
 
+  const fetchTarget =
+    tracking?.fetch && tracking.fetch !== "prune"
+      ? [
+          "--",
+          tracking.fetch.remote,
+          `+${tracking.fetch.mergeRef}:refs/remotes/${tracking.display}`,
+        ]
+      : ["--prune"];
   const fetchOk = params.fetch
-    ? await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "fetch", "--quiet", "--prune"], { timeoutMs })
-        .then((r) => r.code === 0)
-        .catch(() => false)
+    ? (await runGit("fetch", "--quiet", ...fetchTarget))?.code === 0
     : null;
 
-  const canCompareUpstream = !params.fetch || fetchOk === true;
-
   // Freeze the post-fetch upstream for both graph queries. Active tracking wins;
   // a matching successful update receipt keeps intentional detached installs comparable.
-  const upstreamRevision = `${upstreamSource === "tracking" ? trackingRevision : upstream}^{commit}`;
-  const upstreamCommitRes =
-    canCompareUpstream && upstream && sha
-      ? await runCommandWithTimeout(
-          ["git", "-C", root, "rev-parse", "--verify", upstreamRevision],
-          { timeoutMs },
-        ).catch(() => null)
-      : null;
+  const upstreamRevision = `${upstreamSource === "tracking" ? tracking?.revision : upstream}^{commit}`;
   const upstreamCommit =
-    upstreamCommitRes?.code === 0 ? upstreamCommitRes.stdout.trim() || null : null;
-  const mergeBase =
-    sha && upstreamCommit
-      ? await runCommandWithTimeout(["git", "-C", root, "merge-base", sha, upstreamCommit], {
-          timeoutMs,
-        }).catch(() => null)
+    (!params.fetch || fetchOk === true) && upstream && sha
+      ? await readGit("rev-parse", "--verify", upstreamRevision)
       : null;
+  const mergeBase = sha && upstreamCommit ? await readGit("merge-base", sha, upstreamCommit) : null;
   const counts =
-    sha && upstreamCommit && mergeBase?.code === 0 && mergeBase.stdout.trim().length > 0
-      ? await runCommandWithTimeout(
-          ["git", "-C", root, "rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", `${sha}...${upstreamCommit}`],
-          { timeoutMs },
-        ).catch(() => null)
+    sha && upstreamCommit && mergeBase
+      ? await readGit("rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", `${sha}...${upstreamCommit}`)
       : null;
 
-  const parseCounts = (raw: string): { ahead: number; behind: number } | null => {
-    const parts = raw.trim().split(/\s+/);
-    if (parts.length < 2) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    const ahead = Number.parseInt(parts[0] ?? "", 10);
-    const behind = Number.parseInt(parts[1] ?? "", 10);
-    if (!Number.isFinite(ahead) || !Number.isFinite(behind)) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    return { ahead, behind };
-  };
-  const parsed = counts && counts.code === 0 ? parseCounts(counts.stdout) : null;
+  const parsed = counts?.match(/^(\d+)\s+(\d+)$/u);
 
   return {
     root,
@@ -364,8 +364,8 @@ async function checkGitUpdateStatus(params: {
     upstreamSha: upstreamCommit,
     commitAtMs,
     dirty,
-    ahead: parsed?.ahead ?? null,
-    behind: parsed?.behind ?? null,
+    ahead: parsed ? Number(parsed[1]) : null,
+    behind: parsed ? Number(parsed[2]) : null,
     fetchOk,
   };
 }
diff --git a/src/infra/update-runner-git-preflight.ts b/src/infra/update-runner-git-preflight.ts
index 02723a3cd9b1..4357791d990f 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-runner-git-preflight.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-runner-git-preflight.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { normalizeStringEntries } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/string-normalization";
 import { trimLogTail } from "./restart-sentinel.js";
-import { DEV_BRANCH, resolveDevUpstreamRef } from "./update-channels.js";
+import { DEV_BRANCH, resolveDevUpstreamRefs } from "./update-channels.js";
 import { resolveDevUpdateTargetRevision, type DevUpdateTarget } from "./update-dev-target.js";
 import {
   managerInstallArgs,
@@ -210,11 +210,7 @@ async function resolveUpstreamCandidates(params: {
       );
     }
   }
-  const trackingRevision = resolveDevUpstreamRef(
-    params.needsCheckoutMain ? "HEAD" : DEV_BRANCH,
-    true,
-  );
-  const upstreamRefs = [...(trackingRevision ? [trackingRevision] : []), ...remoteBranchRefs];
+  const upstreamRefs = resolveDevUpstreamRefs(params.needsCheckoutMain, remoteBranchRefs);
   let upstreamSha: string | null = null;
   let selectedDevUpstream: string | null = null;
   let sawResolvableUpstreamRef = false;