diff --git a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawProtocol/GatewayModels.swift b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawProtocol/GatewayModels.swift
index 072cab76d318..c4a88a6f892e 100644
--- a/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawProtocol/GatewayModels.swift
+++ b/apps/shared/OpenClawKit/Sources/OpenClawProtocol/GatewayModels.swift
@@ -8971,6 +8971,7 @@ public struct SessionWorktreeInfo: Codable, Sendable {
 
 public struct SessionsCreateParams: Codable, Sendable {
     public let key: String?
+    public let idempotencykey: String?
     public let agentid: String?
     public let label: String?
     public let category: String?
@@ -8999,6 +9000,7 @@ public struct SessionsCreateParams: Codable, Sendable {
 
     public init(
         key: String? = nil,
+        idempotencykey: String? = nil,
         agentid: String? = nil,
         label: String? = nil,
         category: String? = nil,
@@ -9026,6 +9028,7 @@ public struct SessionsCreateParams: Codable, Sendable {
         cwd: String? = nil)
     {
         self.key = key
+        self.idempotencykey = idempotencykey
         self.agentid = agentid
         self.label = label
         self.category = category
@@ -9055,6 +9058,7 @@ public struct SessionsCreateParams: Codable, Sendable {
 
     private enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
         case key
+        case idempotencykey = "idempotencyKey"
         case agentid = "agentId"
         case label
         case category
diff --git a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.ts b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.ts
index 6623aef7accf..a551d7a23f10 100644
--- a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ export {
 export * from "./schema/session-classification.js";
 export * from "./schema/sessions-suggestions.js";
 export * from "./schema/sessions-delete.js";
+export {
+  SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS,
+  SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS,
+} from "./schema/sessions-create.js";
 export * from "./schema/projects.js";
 export * from "./migration-api.js";
 export type * from "./public-session-catalog.js";
diff --git a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.test.ts b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.test.ts
index ecc34792dcc9..f6211da3031b 100644
--- a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.test.ts
+++ b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { validateSessionsCreateParams } from "../index.js";
+import {
+  SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS,
+  SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS,
+  validateSessionsCreateParams,
+} from "../index.js";
 
 describe("sessions.create schema", () => {
+  it("retains successful creates beyond the client's bounded retry window", () => {
+    expect(SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS).toBe(4 * 60_000);
+    expect(SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS).toBeGreaterThan(SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS);
+  });
+
   it.each(["read-only", "guarded", "workspace", "full"])(
     "accepts the closed permission mode %s",
     (permissionMode) => {
@@ -24,4 +33,11 @@ describe("sessions.create schema", () => {
   it("rejects unknown visibility values", () => {
     expect(validateSessionsCreateParams({ agentId: "main", visibility: "private" })).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("accepts a nonempty creation idempotency key", () => {
+    expect(validateSessionsCreateParams({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "start-once" })).toBe(
+      true,
+    );
+    expect(validateSessionsCreateParams({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "" })).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.ts b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.ts
index 4d5fa0a2b62a..00a13756485e 100644
--- a/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.ts
+++ b/packages/gateway-protocol/src/schema/sessions-create.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@ import { NonEmptyString, SessionLabelString } from "./primitives.js";
 import { SessionPermissionModeSchema } from "./sessions-row.js";
 import { SessionVisibilitySchema } from "./sessions-sharing-values.js";
 
+export const SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS = 4 * 60_000;
+export const SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS = 5 * 60_000;
+
 /** Creates or adopts a session with optional model, thinking, label, and parent linkage. */
 export const SessionsCreateParamsSchema = closedObject({
   key: Type.Optional(NonEmptyString),
+  idempotencyKey: Type.Optional(NonEmptyString),
   agentId: Type.Optional(NonEmptyString),
   label: Type.Optional(SessionLabelString),
   category: Type.Optional(SessionLabelString),
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f8a36f874fff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,271 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS } from "../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
+import { createDeferredCore } from "../../shared/deferred.js";
+import { DEDUPE_MAX } from "../server-constants.js";
+import { idempotentSessionCreate } from "./session-create-idempotency.js";
+import type {
+  GatewayRequestContext,
+  GatewayRequestHandler,
+  GatewayRequestHandlerOptions,
+  RespondFn,
+} from "./types.js";
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+function createFixture(handler?: GatewayRequestHandler) {
+  const context = { dedupe: new Map() } as GatewayRequestContext;
+  const execute = vi.fn<GatewayRequestHandler>(
+    handler ??
+      ((request) => {
+        request.respond(true, { key: `agent:main:${String(request.params.idempotencyKey)}` });
+      }),
+  );
+  const wrapped = idempotentSessionCreate(execute);
+  const client = {
+    authenticatedUserId: "owner",
+    connect: {
+      minProtocol: 1,
+      maxProtocol: 1,
+      client: { id: "test", version: "1", platform: "test", mode: "test" },
+      device: {
+        id: "device",
+        publicKey: "key",
+        signature: "signature",
+        signedAt: 1,
+        nonce: "nonce",
+      },
+      role: "operator",
+      scopes: ["operator.admin", "operator.write"],
+    },
+  } satisfies NonNullable<GatewayRequestHandlerOptions["client"]>;
+
+  function invoke(
+    params: Record<string, unknown> = { agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once" },
+    connection: typeof client = client,
+  ) {
+    const respond = vi.fn<RespondFn>();
+    const request: GatewayRequestHandlerOptions = {
+      req: { type: "req", id: "1", method: "sessions.create" },
+      params,
+      client: connection,
+      context,
+      respond,
+      isWebchatConnect: () => false,
+    };
+    return { done: Promise.resolve(wrapped(request)), respond };
+  }
+
+  return { client, context, execute, invoke };
+}
+
+describe("sessions.create process-lifetime idempotency", () => {
+  it("replays reordered requests and added authorization without accepting downgraded scopes", async () => {
+    const { client, context, execute, invoke } = createFixture();
+    const first = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once", message: "hello" });
+    await first.done;
+    context.dedupe.clear();
+
+    const added = invoke(
+      { message: "hello", idempotencyKey: "create-once", agentId: "main" },
+      {
+        ...client,
+        connect: {
+          ...client.connect,
+          scopes: ["operator.write", "operator.read", "operator.admin"],
+        },
+      },
+    );
+    await added.done;
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(added.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true, { key: "agent:main:create-once" }, undefined, {
+      cached: true,
+    });
+
+    const downgraded = invoke(
+      { agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once", message: "hello" },
+      { ...client, connect: { ...client.connect, scopes: ["operator.write"] } },
+    );
+    await downgraded.done;
+    expect(downgraded.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "FORBIDDEN", message: "missing scope: operator.admin" }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+    const changedRole = invoke(
+      { agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once", message: "hello" },
+      { ...client, connect: { ...client.connect, role: "node" } },
+    );
+    await changedRole.done;
+    expect(changedRole.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "FORBIDDEN" }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+    const conflict = invoke({
+      agentId: "main",
+      idempotencyKey: "create-once",
+      message: "different",
+    });
+    await conflict.done;
+    expect(conflict.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "INVALID_REQUEST" }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+    const differentDevice = invoke(
+      { agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once", message: "hello" },
+      {
+        ...client,
+        connect: {
+          ...client.connect,
+          device: { ...client.connect.device, id: "other-device" },
+        },
+      },
+    );
+    await differentDevice.done;
+    expect(differentDevice.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      true,
+      { key: "agent:main:create-once" },
+      undefined,
+      { cached: true },
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects idempotent creation without a principal or device namespace", async () => {
+    const { execute, invoke } = createFixture();
+    const anonymous = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-once" }, null as never);
+
+    await anonymous.done;
+
+    expect(anonymous.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        code: "INVALID_REQUEST",
+        message: expect.stringContaining("identity"),
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("pins in-flight request identity beyond retention and independent of global dedupe pruning", async () => {
+    let now = 1_000;
+    vi.spyOn(Date, "now").mockImplementation(() => now);
+    const release = createDeferredCore();
+    const { context, execute, invoke } = createFixture(async (request) => {
+      await release.promise;
+      request.respond(true, { key: "agent:main:finished" });
+    });
+    const original = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "long-create", message: "hello" });
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+    now += SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS + 1;
+    context.dedupe.clear();
+
+    const conflicting = invoke({
+      agentId: "main",
+      idempotencyKey: "long-create",
+      message: "different",
+    });
+    await conflicting.done;
+    expect(conflicting.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "INVALID_REQUEST" }),
+    );
+
+    const joined = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "long-create", message: "hello" });
+    release.resolve();
+    await Promise.all([original.done, joined.done]);
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(joined.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true, { key: "agent:main:finished" }, undefined, {
+      cached: true,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("expires only settled successful results and immediately releases failed creates", async () => {
+    let now = 1_000;
+    vi.spyOn(Date, "now").mockImplementation(() => now);
+    const { execute, invoke } = createFixture();
+    await invoke().done;
+    now += SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS - 1;
+    await invoke().done;
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    now += 1;
+    await invoke().done;
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+
+    let fail = true;
+    const failed = createFixture((request) => {
+      request.respond(!fail, fail ? undefined : { key: "recovered" });
+      fail = false;
+    });
+    await failed.invoke().done;
+    await failed.invoke().done;
+    expect(failed.execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+  });
+
+  it("enforces capacity per owner without evicting retained successful creations", async () => {
+    const { client, execute, invoke } = createFixture();
+    for (let index = 0; index < DEDUPE_MAX; index += 1) {
+      await invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: `create-${index}` }).done;
+    }
+    const overflow = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "overflow" });
+    await overflow.done;
+    expect(overflow.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "UNAVAILABLE", message: expect.stringContaining("retry") }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(DEDUPE_MAX);
+
+    const retained = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-0" });
+    await retained.done;
+    expect(retained.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true, { key: "agent:main:create-0" }, undefined, {
+      cached: true,
+    });
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(DEDUPE_MAX);
+
+    const otherOwner = { ...client, authenticatedUserId: "other-owner" };
+    const otherCreation = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-0" }, otherOwner);
+    await otherCreation.done;
+    expect(otherCreation.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      true,
+      { key: "agent:main:create-0" },
+      undefined,
+      undefined,
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(DEDUPE_MAX + 1);
+
+    const otherReplay = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-0" }, otherOwner);
+    await otherReplay.done;
+    expect(otherReplay.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      true,
+      { key: "agent:main:create-0" },
+      undefined,
+      { cached: true },
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(DEDUPE_MAX + 1);
+
+    for (let index = 1; index < DEDUPE_MAX; index += 1) {
+      await invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: `create-${index}` }, otherOwner).done;
+    }
+    const thirdOwner = { ...client, authenticatedUserId: "third-owner" };
+    const processOverflow = invoke({ agentId: "main", idempotencyKey: "create-0" }, thirdOwner);
+    await processOverflow.done;
+    expect(processOverflow.respond).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      false,
+      undefined,
+      expect.objectContaining({ code: "UNAVAILABLE" }),
+    );
+    expect(execute).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(DEDUPE_MAX * 2);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..af9356d49682
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/session-create-idempotency.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { stableStringify } from "@openclaw/normalization-core";
+import {
+  ErrorCodes,
+  SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS,
+  errorShape,
+  missingScopeErrorShape,
+} from "../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
+import { DEDUPE_MAX } from "../server-constants.js";
+import type { GatewayInflightResult } from "./inflight.js";
+import type { GatewayRequestContext, GatewayRequestHandler } from "./types.js";
+
+type SessionCreateAuthorization = { role: string | null; scopes: readonly string[] };
+type SessionCreateEntry = {
+  requestIdentity: string;
+  authorization: SessionCreateAuthorization;
+  expiresAt: number;
+  state:
+    | { kind: "inflight"; work: Promise<GatewayInflightResult> }
+    | { kind: "completed"; result: GatewayInflightResult };
+};
+
+const sessionCreatesByContext = new WeakMap<
+  GatewayRequestContext,
+  Map<string, Map<string, SessionCreateEntry>>
+>();
+
+export function idempotentSessionCreate(handler: GatewayRequestHandler): GatewayRequestHandler {
+  return async (request) => {
+    const idempotencyKey = request.params.idempotencyKey;
+    if (typeof idempotencyKey !== "string" || !idempotencyKey) {
+      await handler(request);
+      return;
+    }
+    const principal =
+      request.client?.authenticatedUserProfile?.profileId ?? request.client?.authenticatedUserId;
+    const deviceId = request.client?.connect.device?.id?.trim();
+    if (!principal && !deviceId) {
+      request.respond(
+        false,
+        undefined,
+        errorShape(
+          ErrorCodes.INVALID_REQUEST,
+          "idempotent session creation requires an authenticated principal or device identity",
+        ),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    const owner = principal ? `principal:${principal}` : `device:${deviceId}`;
+    let entriesByOwner = sessionCreatesByContext.get(request.context);
+    if (!entriesByOwner) {
+      entriesByOwner = new Map();
+      sessionCreatesByContext.set(request.context, entriesByOwner);
+    }
+    const now = Date.now();
+    let retainedEntryCount = 0;
+    for (const [entryOwner, ownerEntries] of entriesByOwner) {
+      for (const [key, entry] of ownerEntries) {
+        if (entry.state.kind === "completed" && entry.expiresAt <= now) {
+          ownerEntries.delete(key);
+        }
+      }
+      if (ownerEntries.size === 0) {
+        entriesByOwner.delete(entryOwner);
+      } else {
+        retainedEntryCount += ownerEntries.size;
+      }
+    }
+    let entries = entriesByOwner.get(owner);
+    const requestIdentity = createHash("sha256")
+      .update(stableStringify(request.params))
+      .digest("hex");
+    const authorization: SessionCreateAuthorization = {
+      role: request.client?.connect.role ?? null,
+      scopes: request.client?.connect.scopes?.toSorted() ?? [],
+    };
+    const existing = entries?.get(idempotencyKey);
+    if (existing) {
+      if (existing.requestIdentity !== requestIdentity) {
+        request.respond(
+          false,
+          undefined,
+          errorShape(
+            ErrorCodes.INVALID_REQUEST,
+            "session creation idempotency key was reused with different parameters",
+          ),
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      if (existing.authorization.role !== authorization.role) {
+        request.respond(
+          false,
+          undefined,
+          errorShape(ErrorCodes.FORBIDDEN, "session creation authorization changed; start again"),
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      const missingScope = existing.authorization.scopes.find(
+        (scope) => !authorization.scopes.includes(scope),
+      );
+      if (missingScope) {
+        request.respond(
+          false,
+          undefined,
+          missingScopeErrorShape({
+            missingScope,
+            requiredScopes: existing.authorization.scopes,
+          }),
+        );
+        return;
+      }
+      const result =
+        existing.state.kind === "completed" ? existing.state.result : await existing.state.work;
+      request.respond(result.ok, result.payload, result.error, {
+        ...result.meta,
+        cached: true,
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    // Reserve a full owner's capacity for other principals while bounding process-wide state.
+    if ((entries?.size ?? 0) >= DEDUPE_MAX || retainedEntryCount >= DEDUPE_MAX * 2) {
+      request.respond(
+        false,
+        undefined,
+        errorShape(ErrorCodes.UNAVAILABLE, "session creation capacity is full; retry later"),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!entries) {
+      entries = new Map();
+      entriesByOwner.set(owner, entries);
+    }
+    const releaseEntry = () => {
+      entries.delete(idempotencyKey);
+      if (entries.size === 0) {
+        entriesByOwner.delete(owner);
+      }
+    };
+    // The entry is installed before work begins; in-flight identity is never TTL/cap-evictable.
+    const work = Promise.resolve().then(async (): Promise<GatewayInflightResult> => {
+      try {
+        let result: GatewayInflightResult | undefined;
+        await handler({
+          ...request,
+          respond: (ok, payload, error, meta) => {
+            result = { ok, payload, error, meta };
+          },
+        });
+        result ??= {
+          ok: false,
+          error: errorShape(ErrorCodes.UNAVAILABLE, "session creation was interrupted"),
+        };
+        if (result.ok) {
+          entry.expiresAt = Date.now() + SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS;
+          entry.state = { kind: "completed", result };
+        } else {
+          releaseEntry();
+        }
+        return result;
+      } catch (error) {
+        releaseEntry();
+        throw error;
+      }
+    });
+    const entry: SessionCreateEntry = {
+      requestIdentity,
+      authorization,
+      expiresAt: now + SESSION_CREATE_IDEMPOTENCY_RETENTION_MS,
+      state: { kind: "inflight", work },
+    };
+    entries.set(idempotencyKey, entry);
+    const result = await work;
+    request.respond(result.ok, result.payload, result.error, result.meta);
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/sessions-create.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/sessions-create.ts
index fa2e31568197..ad74f030ad83 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/sessions-create.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/sessions-create.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ import { chatHandlers } from "./chat.js";
 import { resolveRegisteredCatalogCreateTarget } from "./session-catalog.js";
 import { emitSessionsChanged } from "./session-change-event.js";
 import { registerCreatedSessionCategory } from "./session-create-category.js";
+import { idempotentSessionCreate } from "./session-create-idempotency.js";
 import {
   resolveSessionCreateInitialTurn,
   shouldAttachPendingMessageSeq,
@@ -689,3 +690,7 @@ export const sessionCreateHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
     }
   },
 };
+
+sessionCreateHandlers["sessions.create"] = idempotentSessionCreate(
+  expectDefined(sessionCreateHandlers["sessions.create"], "sessions.create handler"),
+);
diff --git a/src/gateway/server.sessions.create.test.ts b/src/gateway/server.sessions.create.test.ts
index 525d46c1ff0d..9a9e624ae98a 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.sessions.create.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.sessions.create.test.ts
@@ -4276,6 +4276,121 @@ test("sessions.create adopting an existing key does not restamp node provenance"
   }
 });
 
+test("sessions.create replays an identical creation once and rejects conflicting intent", async () => {
+  await createSessionStoreDir();
+  const { chatHandlers } = await import("./server-methods/chat.js");
+  const { sessionCreateHandlers } = await import("./server-methods/sessions-create.js");
+  let sharedContext:
+    | Parameters<NonNullable<(typeof chatHandlers)["chat.send"]>>[0]["context"]
+    | undefined;
+  const chatSend = vi
+    .spyOn(chatHandlers, "chat.send")
+    .mockImplementation(async ({ context, respond }) => {
+      sharedContext ??= context;
+      respond(true, { runId: "create-once", status: "started" });
+    });
+  const dedupe = new Map();
+  const client = {
+    connect: {
+      role: "operator",
+      scopes: ["operator.write", "operator.admin"],
+      device: { id: "control-ui-device" },
+    },
+    authenticatedUserProfile: { profileId: "profile-owner" },
+  };
+  const params = {
+    agentId: "main",
+    idempotencyKey: "create-once",
+    message: "start this task exactly once",
+    permissionMode: "full",
+  };
+  const request = async (nextParams = params, nextClient = client) => {
+    if (!sharedContext) {
+      return await directSessionReq<{ key: string }>("sessions.create", nextParams, {
+        client: nextClient as never,
+        context: { dedupe },
+      });
+    }
+    let result:
+      | { ok: boolean; payload?: { key: string }; error?: { code?: string; message?: string } }
+      | undefined;
+    await sessionCreateHandlers["sessions.create"]?.({
+      req: {} as never,
+      params: nextParams,
+      client: nextClient as never,
+      context: sharedContext,
+      isWebchatConnect: () => false,
+      respond: (ok, payload, error) => {
+        result = { ok, payload: payload as { key: string } | undefined, error };
+      },
+    });
+    if (!result) {
+      throw new Error("sessions.create did not respond");
+    }
+    return result;
+  };
+
+  try {
+    const first = await request();
+    const replay = await request(
+      {
+        message: params.message,
+        permissionMode: params.permissionMode,
+        idempotencyKey: params.idempotencyKey,
+        agentId: params.agentId,
+      },
+      {
+        ...client,
+        connect: {
+          ...client.connect,
+          scopes: ["operator.admin", "operator.read", "operator.write"],
+        },
+      },
+    );
+
+    expect(first.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(replay).toEqual(first);
+    expect(chatSend).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(chatSend.mock.calls[0]?.[0].params).toMatchObject({
+      idempotencyKey: expect.any(String),
+      message: "start this task exactly once",
+    });
+
+    const conflict = await request({ ...params, message: "start a different task" });
+    expect(conflict).toMatchObject({
+      ok: false,
+      error: {
+        code: "INVALID_REQUEST",
+        message: "session creation idempotency key was reused with different parameters",
+      },
+    });
+    expect(chatSend).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+    const downgraded = await request(params, {
+      ...client,
+      connect: { ...client.connect, scopes: ["operator.write"] },
+    });
+    expect(downgraded).toMatchObject({
+      ok: false,
+      error: { message: "missing scope: operator.admin" },
+    });
+    expect(chatSend).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+
+    const differentOwner = await request(params, {
+      ...client,
+      authenticatedUserProfile: { profileId: "profile-other" },
+    });
+    expect(differentOwner.ok).toBe(true);
+    expect(differentOwner.payload?.key).not.toBe(first.payload?.key);
+    expect(chatSend).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(chatSend.mock.calls[1]?.[0].params.idempotencyKey).not.toBe(
+      chatSend.mock.calls[0]?.[0].params.idempotencyKey,
+    );
+  } finally {
+    chatSend.mockRestore();
+  }
+});
+
 test("sessions.create scopes the main alias to the requested agent", async () => {
   const { storePath } = await createSessionStoreDir();
   testState.agentsConfig = { list: [{ id: "main", default: true }, { id: "longmemeval" }] };
diff --git a/ui/src/components/settings-ui.ts b/ui/src/components/settings-ui.ts
index 007e42557d63..f9f0141ffe9a 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/settings-ui.ts
+++ b/ui/src/components/settings-ui.ts
@@ -224,6 +224,10 @@ export function renderSettingsToggleRow(props: {
   `;
 }
 
+export function renderSettingsDefaultDescription(value: string, overridden: boolean) {
+  return html`${t(overridden ? "configForm.defaultValue" : "configForm.usingDefault", { value })}`;
+}
+
 export function renderSettingsDefaultState(props: {
   value: string;
   overridden: boolean;
@@ -234,10 +238,7 @@ export function renderSettingsDefaultState(props: {
   action: TemplateResult | typeof nothing;
 } {
   return {
-    description: html`${t(
-      props.overridden ? "configForm.defaultValue" : "configForm.usingDefault",
-      { value: props.value },
-    )}`,
+    description: renderSettingsDefaultDescription(props.value, props.overridden),
     action: props.overridden
       ? html`
           <button
@@ -263,6 +264,8 @@ export function renderSettingsSegmented<T extends string>(props: {
   options: ReadonlyArray<{ value: T; label: unknown; title?: string; testId?: string }>;
   /** The selected radio is passed so callers can anchor visual transitions. */
   onChange: (value: T, element: HTMLElement) => void;
+  /** Optional activation for an already-selected value, such as clearing an explicit default. */
+  onReselect?: (value: T, element: HTMLElement) => void;
   disabled?: boolean;
   ariaLabel?: string;
   className?: string;
@@ -299,6 +302,11 @@ export function renderSettingsSegmented<T extends string>(props: {
             .checked=${live(option.value === props.value)}
             title=${option.title ?? nothing}
             data-test-id=${option.testId ?? nothing}
+            @click=${(event: Event) => {
+              if (option.value === props.value && event.currentTarget instanceof HTMLElement) {
+                props.onReselect?.(option.value, event.currentTarget);
+              }
+            }}
           >
             ${option.label}
           </wa-radio>
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/appearance-settings-defaults.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/appearance-settings-defaults.e2e.test.ts
index 9b20444f7cd4..68a5d4cbd7a6 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/appearance-settings-defaults.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/appearance-settings-defaults.e2e.test.ts
@@ -274,8 +274,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
       await resetSyncedPreference({
         click: () =>
           themeSection
-            .locator(":scope > .settings-section__header")
-            .getByRole("button", { name: "Reset to default" })
+            .locator(".settings-theme-card--claw")
             .click()
             .then(() => undefined),
         expectedKey: "theme",
@@ -289,7 +288,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
       await resetSyncedPreference({
         click: () =>
           colorModeRow
-            .getByRole("button", { name: "Reset to default" })
+            .locator('wa-radio[value="system"]')
             .click()
             .then(() => undefined),
         expectedKey: "themeMode",
@@ -298,10 +297,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
         remainingPrefs: withoutThemeMode,
       });
 
-      await textSizeSection
-        .locator(":scope > .settings-section__header")
-        .getByRole("button", { name: "Reset to default" })
-        .click();
+      await textSizeSection.locator(".settings-text-scale__btn", { hasText: "100%" }).click();
       await expect.poll(() => readPersistedSettings(page)).not.toHaveProperty("textScale");
 
       await resetSyncedPreference({
@@ -480,14 +476,16 @@ suite.define(() => {
       }
       await captureViewport(page, "09-accent-mint-selected.png");
 
-      await gateway.setMethodResponse(
-        "config.get",
-        configResponse({ accent: mintAccent, theme: "claw" }, "appearance-accent-3"),
-      );
-      await page.locator("#settings-appearance-theme .settings-theme-card--claw").click();
-      await waitForRequestCount(gateway, "config.patch", 2);
-      expect(patchPrefs((await gateway.getRequests("config.patch"))[1]!)).toEqual({
-        theme: "claw",
+      await resetSyncedPreference({
+        click: () =>
+          page
+            .locator("#settings-appearance-theme .settings-theme-card--claw")
+            .click()
+            .then(() => undefined),
+        expectedKey: "theme",
+        gateway,
+        hash: "appearance-accent-3",
+        remainingPrefs: { accent: mintAccent },
       });
       await expect.poll(() => page.locator("html").getAttribute("data-theme")).toBe("dark");
       await expect.poll(() => readAccentPresentation(page)).toMatchObject({ accent: mintAccent });
@@ -495,7 +493,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
 
       await gateway.setMethodResponse(
         "config.get",
-        configResponse({ accent: customAccent, theme: "claw" }, "appearance-accent-4"),
+        configResponse({ accent: customAccent }, "appearance-accent-4"),
       );
       await accentSection.locator('input[type="color"][data-accent-custom]').fill(customAccent);
       await waitForRequestCount(gateway, "config.patch", 3);
@@ -514,14 +512,13 @@ suite.define(() => {
       await resetSyncedPreference({
         click: () =>
           accentSection
-            .locator(":scope > .settings-section__header")
-            .getByRole("button", { name: "Reset to default" })
+            .locator('[data-accent-preset="default"]')
             .click()
             .then(() => undefined),
         expectedKey: "accent",
         gateway,
         hash: "appearance-accent-5",
-        remainingPrefs: { theme: "claw" },
+        remainingPrefs: {},
       });
       await expect
         .poll(() =>
@@ -639,10 +636,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
           .poll(() => followUpRow.textContent())
           .toContain("Stocké uniquement dans ce navigateur");
 
-        await themeSection
-          .locator(":scope > .settings-section__header")
-          .locator("button.btn--icon")
-          .click();
+        await themeSection.locator(".settings-theme-card--claw").click();
         await languageRow.locator("button.btn--icon").click();
         await followUpRow.locator("button.btn--sm").click();
 
@@ -705,10 +699,7 @@ suite.define(() => {
       await expect.poll(() => readPersistedSettings(page)).toMatchObject({ theme: "claw" });
       expect(await gateway.getRequests("config.patch")).toHaveLength(0);
 
-      await themeSection
-        .locator(":scope > .settings-section__header")
-        .locator("button.btn--icon")
-        .click();
+      await themeSection.locator(".settings-theme-card--knot").click();
       await expect
         .poll(() => themeSection.locator(".settings-theme-card--knot").getAttribute("aria-pressed"))
         .toBe("true");
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/new-session-page.workspace-validation.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/new-session-page.workspace-validation.e2e.test.ts
index a5f03761b4cc..4c08fc449023 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/new-session-page.workspace-validation.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/new-session-page.workspace-validation.e2e.test.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
   SOURCE_REPO,
   TARGET_REPO,
   WORKSPACE,
+  controlUiSessionPath,
   createNewSessionPageE2eSuite,
   installMockGateway,
   pollLocatorText,
@@ -400,9 +401,9 @@ suite.define(() => {
   });
 
   for (const reconnectKind of ["same-client reconnect", "client replacement"] as const) {
-    it(`marks a pending creation outcome unknown after ${reconnectKind}`, async () => {
+    it(`automatically resumes an idempotent session creation after ${reconnectKind}`, async () => {
       await withNewSessionPage(DESKTOP_CONTEXT, async (page) => {
-        const sessionKey = `agent:main:unknown-${reconnectKind.replaceAll(" ", "-")}`;
+        const sessionKey = `agent:main:resumed-${reconnectKind.replaceAll(" ", "-")}`;
         const gateway = await installMockGateway(page, {
           methodResponses: {
             "agents.list": mainAgentList("Original agent", SOURCE_REPO),
@@ -413,12 +414,14 @@ suite.define(() => {
         await page.goto(`${suite.server.baseUrl}new`);
         await page.getByRole("heading", { name: "Original agent" }).waitFor();
         const message = page.locator(".new-session-page__message");
+        const projectTrigger = page.locator("#new-session-project-trigger");
         const start = page.locator("button.chat-send-btn");
         await message.fill("retry this draft after reconnect");
         await gateway.deferNext("sessions.create");
         await start.click();
-        await gateway.waitForRequest("sessions.create");
+        const originalCreate = await gateway.waitForRequest("sessions.create");
         await expect.poll(() => start.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
+        await gateway.deferNext("sessions.create");
 
         if (reconnectKind === "client replacement") {
           await gateway.setMethodResponse(
@@ -433,30 +436,67 @@ suite.define(() => {
           const agentRequestsBefore = (await gateway.getRequests("agents.list")).length;
           await gateway.setOnline(false);
           await waitForControlUiGatewayReconnecting(page);
+          expect(await message.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
+          expect(await projectTrigger.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
+          expect(await start.getAttribute("aria-busy")).toBe("true");
           await gateway.setOnline(true);
           await waitForControlUiGatewayReady(page);
           await expect
             .poll(async () => (await gateway.getRequests("agents.list")).length)
             .toBe(agentRequestsBefore + 1);
         }
-        await expect.poll(() => message.inputValue()).toBe("retry this draft after reconnect");
-        await expect.poll(() => message.isEnabled()).toBe(true);
-        await expect.poll(() => start.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
-        // The gate table also surfaces this reason in the Start tooltip, so
-        // scope to the page callout instead of a bare text match.
-        await page
-          .getByRole("alert")
-          .filter({
-            hasText:
-              "The Gateway changed while this session was starting. Check recent sessions before starting this task again.",
-          })
-          .waitFor();
-        expect(new URL(page.url()).pathname).toBe("/new");
-        expect(await gateway.getRequests("sessions.create")).toHaveLength(1);
+        await expect
+          .poll(async () => (await gateway.getRequests("sessions.create")).length)
+          .toBe(2);
+        const resumedCreate = (await gateway.getRequests("sessions.create")).at(-1);
+        expect(originalCreate.params).toMatchObject({
+          idempotencyKey: expect.any(String),
+          message: "retry this draft after reconnect",
+        });
+        expect(resumedCreate?.params).toEqual(originalCreate.params);
+        expect(await message.inputValue()).toBe("retry this draft after reconnect");
+        expect(await message.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
+        expect(await projectTrigger.isDisabled()).toBe(true);
+        await gateway.resolveDeferred("sessions.create", { key: sessionKey });
+        await gateway.resolveDeferred("sessions.create", { key: sessionKey });
+        await page.waitForURL((url) => url.pathname === controlUiSessionPath(sessionKey));
       });
     });
   }
 
+  it("keeps an interrupted creation fail-closed after the Gateway process restarts", async () => {
+    await withNewSessionPage(DESKTOP_CONTEXT, async (page) => {
+      const gateway = await installMockGateway(page, {
+        methodResponses: {
+          "agents.list": mainAgentList(),
+          "worktrees.branches": branchList(),
+        },
+      });
+      await page.goto(`${suite.server.baseUrl}new`);
+      await page.getByRole("heading", { name: "Main" }).waitFor();
+      await page.locator(".new-session-page__message").fill("do not duplicate this task");
+      await gateway.deferNext("sessions.create");
+      await page.getByRole("button", { name: "Start session" }).click();
+      await gateway.waitForRequest("sessions.create");
+
+      await gateway.setOnline(false);
+      await waitForControlUiGatewayReconnecting(page);
+      await gateway.setGatewayBootId("different-gateway-process");
+      await gateway.setOnline(true);
+      await waitForControlUiGatewayReady(page);
+
+      await page
+        .getByRole("alert")
+        .filter({
+          hasText:
+            "The Gateway changed while this session was starting. Check recent sessions before starting this task again.",
+        })
+        .waitFor();
+      expect(await gateway.getRequests("sessions.create")).toHaveLength(1);
+      expect(new URL(page.url()).pathname).toBe("/new");
+    });
+  });
+
   it("resets agent-derived workspace state when retargeted to a catalog", async () => {
     await withNewSessionPage(DESKTOP_CONTEXT, async (page) => {
       const gateway = await installMockGateway(page, {
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-hovercard.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-hovercard.e2e.test.ts
index ce9bb409014b..2fd225763977 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-hovercard.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/session-progress-hovercard.e2e.test.ts
@@ -575,13 +575,18 @@ suite.define(() => {
         await card.waitFor({ state: "visible" });
         const firstBounds = await first.boundingBox();
         expect(firstBounds).not.toBeNull();
+        const cardBounds = await card.boundingBox();
+        expect(cardBounds).not.toBeNull();
         await pointer(first, "pointerout", {
           clientX: (firstBounds?.x ?? 0) + (firstBounds?.width ?? 0),
           clientY: (firstBounds?.y ?? 0) + (firstBounds?.height ?? 0) / 2,
         });
         await page.waitForTimeout(150);
         expect(await card.count()).toBe(1);
-        await card.hover();
+        await page.mouse.move(
+          (cardBounds?.x ?? 0) + (cardBounds?.width ?? 0) / 2,
+          (cardBounds?.y ?? 0) + (cardBounds?.height ?? 0) / 2,
+        );
         expect(await card.count()).toBe(1);
         await page.mouse.move(900, 800);
         await page.waitForTimeout(50);
diff --git a/ui/src/e2e/theme-muted-contrast.e2e.test.ts b/ui/src/e2e/theme-muted-contrast.e2e.test.ts
index 252669a7bad8..d796ac7f968d 100644
--- a/ui/src/e2e/theme-muted-contrast.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/e2e/theme-muted-contrast.e2e.test.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ const textTokens = [
 const surfaceTokens = ["--bg", "--bg-elevated", "--bg-muted", "--card", "--panel"] as const;
 
 function themeConfigResponse(family: "claw" | "knot" | "dash", mode: "dark" | "light") {
-  const config = { ui: { prefs: { theme: family, themeMode: mode } } };
+  const config = {
+    ui: { prefs: { ...(family === "claw" ? {} : { theme: family }), themeMode: mode } },
+  };
   const hash = `theme-contrast-${family}-${mode}`;
   return {
     appliedConfigHash: hash,
@@ -176,7 +178,9 @@ suite.define(() => {
         const patch = await gateway.waitForRequest("config.patch");
         const raw = (patch.params as { raw?: unknown } | undefined)?.raw;
         expect(typeof raw).toBe("string");
-        expect(JSON.parse(String(raw))).toMatchObject({ ui: { prefs: { theme: family } } });
+        expect(JSON.parse(String(raw))).toMatchObject({
+          ui: { prefs: { theme: family === "claw" ? null : family } },
+        });
 
         // Theme clicks apply immediately; the eventual Gateway acknowledgement must not revert them.
         await expect.poll(() => page.locator("html").getAttribute("data-theme")).toBe(resolved);
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/sessions/create.ts b/ui/src/lib/sessions/create.ts
index 032692ccbf86..fef6ee1c041f 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/sessions/create.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/sessions/create.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-import type { SessionsCreateResult } from "../../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
+import type {
+  SessionsCreateParams,
+  SessionsCreateResult,
+} from "../../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
 import type { GatewayBrowserClient } from "../../api/gateway.ts";
 
 export type SessionCreateOutcome = {
@@ -9,35 +12,8 @@ export type SessionCreateOutcome = {
     | { status: "rejected"; error: string };
 };
 
-export type SessionCreateParams = {
-  key?: string;
-  agentId?: string;
-  catalogId?: string;
+export type SessionCreateParams = SessionsCreateParams & {
   currentSessionKey?: string;
-  parentSessionKey?: string;
-  fork?: boolean;
-  forkFrom?: "last-completed";
-  succeedsParent?: boolean;
-  label?: string;
-  category?: string;
-  model?: string;
-  contextWindow?: string;
-  thinkingLevel?: string;
-  incognito?: boolean;
-  worktree?: boolean;
-  /** Base ref for the managed worktree branch; requires worktree. */
-  worktreeBaseRef?: string;
-  /** Worktree name (branch becomes openclaw/<name>); requires worktree. */
-  worktreeName?: string;
-  /** Bind session exec to host=node with this node id (operator.admin). */
-  execNode?: string;
-  /** Absolute source checkout for the worktree (operator.admin). */
-  cwd?: string;
-  /** First message; the gateway creates the session and starts the run in one call. */
-  message?: string;
-  /** Attachments for the first message, using the chat.send wire format. */
-  attachments?: unknown[];
-  task?: string;
 };
 
 export function resolveSessionCreateParams(sessionKey = "", agentId?: string) {
@@ -56,7 +32,7 @@ export function resolveSessionCreateParams(sessionKey = "", agentId?: string) {
 
 export async function requestSessionCreate(
   client: Pick<GatewayBrowserClient, "request">,
-  params: Omit<SessionCreateParams, "currentSessionKey"> & { emitCommandHooks?: boolean } = {},
+  params: Omit<SessionCreateParams, "currentSessionKey"> = {},
 ): Promise<SessionCreateOutcome> {
   const result = await client.request<SessionsCreateResult>("sessions.create", params);
   const key = typeof result?.key === "string" ? result.key.trim() : "";
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.test.ts
index 0cf266b58a48..f5093b9f471c 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.test.ts
@@ -201,11 +201,7 @@ describe("ConfigPage synced preference provenance", () => {
     expect(themeSection?.textContent).not.toContain("Default: Knot");
     expect(themeSection?.textContent).not.toContain("Stored in this browser only");
 
-    themeSection
-      ?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(
-        ":scope > .settings-section__header button[aria-label='Reset to default']",
-      )
-      ?.click();
+    themeSection?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(".settings-theme-card--claw")?.click();
 
     expect(changedServerUiPrefs(beforeReset, state.settings)).toEqual({ theme: null });
   });
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.ts
index 85c24a160985..ebdf3ecd2da8 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/config-page.ts
@@ -938,7 +938,6 @@ export class ConfigPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
   ) {
     switch (key) {
       case "theme":
-        this.customThemeImportOwner.recordActivation(null);
         this.settings = resetServerUiPref(
           "theme",
           this.currentThemePref(),
@@ -981,13 +980,16 @@ export class ConfigPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     theme: ThemeName,
     context?: Parameters<typeof startThemeTransition>[0]["context"],
   ) {
-    this.customThemeImportOwner.recordActivation(theme);
+    const preference = this.currentThemePref();
+    const reset = preference.overridden && theme === preference.resetValue;
+    this.customThemeImportOwner.recordActivation(reset ? null : theme);
     const currentTheme = resolveTheme(this.settings.theme, this.settings.themeMode);
     startThemeTransition({
       currentTheme,
       nextTheme: resolveTheme(theme, this.settings.themeMode),
       context,
-      applyTheme: () => this.applySettings({ theme }),
+      applyTheme: () =>
+        reset ? this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("theme") : this.applySettings({ theme }),
     });
   }
 
@@ -995,12 +997,17 @@ export class ConfigPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     mode: ThemeMode,
     context?: Parameters<typeof startThemeTransition>[0]["context"],
   ) {
+    const preference = this.currentThemeModePref();
+    const reset = preference.overridden && mode === preference.resetValue;
     const currentTheme = resolveTheme(this.settings.theme, this.settings.themeMode);
     startThemeTransition({
       currentTheme,
       nextTheme: resolveTheme(this.settings.theme, mode),
       context,
-      applyTheme: () => this.applySettings({ themeMode: mode }),
+      applyTheme: () =>
+        reset
+          ? this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("themeMode")
+          : this.applySettings({ themeMode: mode }),
     });
   }
 
@@ -1248,11 +1255,11 @@ export class ConfigPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       onLocaleChange: (locale) => this.setLocale(locale),
       resetLocale: () => this.resetLocale(),
       setTheme: (theme, transitionContext) => this.setTheme(theme, transitionContext),
-      resetTheme: () => this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("theme"),
       setThemeMode: (mode, transitionContext) => this.setThemeMode(mode, transitionContext),
-      resetThemeMode: () => this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("themeMode"),
-      setAccent: (accent) => this.applySettings({ accent }),
-      resetAccent: () => this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("accent"),
+      setAccent: (accent) =>
+        accent === undefined
+          ? this.resetSyncedAppearancePref("accent")
+          : this.applySettings({ accent }),
       hasCustomTheme: Boolean(this.settings.customTheme),
       customThemeLabel: this.settings.customTheme?.label ?? null,
       customThemeSourceUrl: this.settings.customTheme?.sourceUrl ?? null,
@@ -1267,8 +1274,11 @@ export class ConfigPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
       onOpenCustomThemeImport: () => this.customThemeImportOwner.open(),
       textScale: this.settings.textScale ?? UI_APPEARANCE_DEFAULTS.textScale,
       textScaleOverridden: this.settings.textScale !== undefined,
-      setTextScale: (value) => this.setSetting("textScale", normalizeTextScale(value)),
-      resetTextScale: () => this.setSetting("textScale", undefined),
+      setTextScale: (value) =>
+        this.setSetting(
+          "textScale",
+          value === UI_APPEARANCE_DEFAULTS.textScale ? undefined : normalizeTextScale(value),
+        ),
       sidebarLiveActivity:
         this.settings.sidebarLiveActivity ?? UI_APPEARANCE_DEFAULTS.sidebarLiveActivity,
       setSidebarLiveActivity: (enabled) => this.setSetting("sidebarLiveActivity", enabled),
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance.ts
index 5f9b6ea1966e..1bc4bcdd9975 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/view-appearance.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type { ThemeName } from "../../app/theme.ts";
 import { icons } from "../../components/icons.ts";
 import {
   renderDocsLink,
-  renderSettingsDefaultState,
+  renderSettingsDefaultDescription,
   renderSettingsRow,
   renderSettingsSegmented,
   renderSettingsStatus,
@@ -148,39 +148,21 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
         : t("configView.appearance.importHint"),
     },
   ];
-  const themeDefaultState = renderSettingsDefaultState({
-    value:
-      themeOptions.find((option) => option.id === props.themeResetValue)?.label ??
-      t("configView.themes.claw.label"),
-    overridden: props.themeOverridden,
-    onReset: props.resetTheme,
-  });
-  const themeModeDefaultState = renderSettingsDefaultState({
-    value:
-      props.themeModeResetValue === "light"
-        ? t("common.light")
-        : props.themeModeResetValue === "dark"
-          ? t("common.dark")
-          : t("common.system"),
-    overridden: props.themeModeOverridden,
-    onReset: props.resetThemeMode,
-  });
-  const accentDefaultState = renderSettingsDefaultState({
-    value: t("configView.appearance.accents.default"),
-    overridden: props.accentOverridden,
-    onReset: props.resetAccent,
-  });
+  const themeDefault =
+    themeOptions.find((option) => option.id === props.themeResetValue)?.label ??
+    t("configView.themes.claw.label");
+  const themeModeDefault =
+    props.themeModeResetValue === "light"
+      ? t("common.light")
+      : props.themeModeResetValue === "dark"
+        ? t("common.dark")
+        : t("common.system");
   const themeProvenance = serverUiPrefProvenanceHint(props.themeProvenance);
   const themeModeProvenance = serverUiPrefProvenanceHint(props.themeModeProvenance);
   const accentProvenance = serverUiPrefProvenanceHint(props.accentProvenance);
   const customAccentSelected = Boolean(
     props.accent && !ACCENT_PRESETS.some((preset) => preset.hex === props.accent),
   );
-  const textScaleDefaultState = renderSettingsDefaultState({
-    value: `${UI_APPEARANCE_DEFAULTS.textScale}%`,
-    overridden: props.textScaleOverridden,
-    onReset: props.resetTextScale,
-  });
   return html`
     <div class="settings-page">
       <p class="settings-page__intro">
@@ -191,10 +173,10 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
       <section id=${APPEARANCE_SETTINGS_TARGET_IDS.theme} class="settings-section">
         <div class="settings-section__header">
           <h2 class="settings-section__heading">${t("configView.appearance.theme")}</h2>
-          <div class="settings-section__actions">${themeDefaultState.action}</div>
         </div>
         <p class="settings-section__desc">
-          ${t("configView.appearance.chooseTheme")} ${themeDefaultState.description}
+          ${t("configView.appearance.chooseTheme")}
+          ${renderSettingsDefaultDescription(themeDefault, props.themeOverridden)}
           ${themeProvenance}
         </p>
         <div class="settings-group">
@@ -216,7 +198,10 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
                         props.onOpenCustomThemeImport?.();
                         return;
                       }
-                      if (opt.id !== props.theme) {
+                      if (
+                        opt.id !== props.theme ||
+                        (opt.id === props.themeResetValue && props.themeOverridden)
+                      ) {
                         const context: ThemeTransitionContext = {
                           element: (e.currentTarget as HTMLElement) ?? undefined,
                         };
@@ -238,21 +223,27 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
           </div>
           ${renderSettingsRow({
             title: t("common.colorMode"),
-            description: html`${themeModeDefaultState.description} ${themeModeProvenance}`,
+            description: html`${renderSettingsDefaultDescription(
+              themeModeDefault,
+              props.themeModeOverridden,
+            )}
+            ${themeModeProvenance}`,
             stacked: true,
-            control: html`
-              ${themeModeDefaultState.action}
-              ${renderSettingsSegmented({
-                value: props.themeMode,
-                options: [
-                  { value: "system", label: t("common.system") },
-                  { value: "light", label: t("common.light") },
-                  { value: "dark", label: t("common.dark") },
-                ],
-                ariaLabel: t("common.colorMode"),
-                onChange: (mode, element) => props.setThemeMode(mode, { element }),
-              })}
-            `,
+            control: renderSettingsSegmented({
+              value: props.themeMode,
+              options: [
+                { value: "system", label: t("common.system") },
+                { value: "light", label: t("common.light") },
+                { value: "dark", label: t("common.dark") },
+              ],
+              ariaLabel: t("common.colorMode"),
+              onChange: (mode, element) => props.setThemeMode(mode, { element }),
+              onReselect: (mode, element) => {
+                if (props.themeModeOverridden && mode === props.themeModeResetValue) {
+                  props.setThemeMode(mode, { element });
+                }
+              },
+            }),
           })}
           <div class="settings-row settings-row--stacked">
             ${showCustomThemeImport
@@ -337,10 +328,13 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
       <section id=${APPEARANCE_SETTINGS_TARGET_IDS.accent} class="settings-section">
         <div class="settings-section__header">
           <h2 class="settings-section__heading">${t("configView.appearance.accent")}</h2>
-          <div class="settings-section__actions">${accentDefaultState.action}</div>
         </div>
         <p class="settings-section__desc">
-          ${t("configView.appearance.accentHint")} ${accentDefaultState.description}
+          ${t("configView.appearance.accentHint")}
+          ${renderSettingsDefaultDescription(
+            t("configView.appearance.accents.default"),
+            props.accentOverridden,
+          )}
           ${accentProvenance}
         </p>
         <div class="settings-group">
@@ -368,8 +362,7 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
                     aria-label=${label}
                     aria-pressed=${String(selected)}
                     title=${label}
-                    @click=${() =>
-                      preset.hex === undefined ? props.resetAccent() : props.setAccent(preset.hex)}
+                    @click=${() => props.setAccent(preset.hex)}
                   >
                     ${selected
                       ? html`<span class="settings-accent-swatch__check" aria-hidden="true"
@@ -399,10 +392,13 @@ export function renderAppearanceSection(
       <section id=${APPEARANCE_SETTINGS_TARGET_IDS.textSize} class="settings-section">
         <div class="settings-section__header">
           <h2 class="settings-section__heading">${t("configView.appearance.textSize")}</h2>
-          <div class="settings-section__actions">${textScaleDefaultState.action}</div>
         </div>
         <p class="settings-section__desc">
-          ${textScaleDefaultState.description} ${t("quickSettings.personal.browserOnly")}
+          ${renderSettingsDefaultDescription(
+            `${UI_APPEARANCE_DEFAULTS.textScale}%`,
+            props.textScaleOverridden,
+          )}
+          ${t("quickSettings.personal.browserOnly")}
         </p>
         <div class="settings-group">
           <div class="settings-row settings-row--stacked">
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/view-types.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/view-types.ts
index 71172d1841eb..026302d4a109 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/view-types.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/view-types.ts
@@ -115,11 +115,8 @@ export type ConfigProps = {
   onLocaleChange: (locale: Locale | undefined) => void;
   resetLocale: () => void;
   setTheme: (theme: ThemeName, context?: ThemeTransitionContext) => void;
-  resetTheme: () => void;
   setThemeMode: (mode: ThemeMode, context?: ThemeTransitionContext) => void;
-  resetThemeMode: () => void;
-  setAccent: (accent: string) => void;
-  resetAccent: () => void;
+  setAccent: (accent: string | undefined) => void;
   hasCustomTheme: boolean;
   customThemeLabel: string | null;
   customThemeSourceUrl: string | null;
@@ -135,7 +132,6 @@ export type ConfigProps = {
   textScale: number;
   textScaleOverridden: boolean;
   setTextScale: (value: number) => void;
-  resetTextScale: () => void;
   sidebarLiveActivity: boolean;
   setSidebarLiveActivity: (enabled: boolean) => void;
   hiddenSessionCatalogIds: ReadonlySet<string>;
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
index 057df8de2ce2..a4532285385d 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/config/view.browser.test.ts
@@ -67,11 +67,8 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     onLocaleChange: vi.fn(),
     resetLocale: vi.fn(),
     setTheme: vi.fn(),
-    resetTheme: vi.fn(),
     setThemeMode: vi.fn(),
-    resetThemeMode: vi.fn(),
     setAccent: vi.fn(),
-    resetAccent: vi.fn(),
     hasCustomTheme: false,
     customThemeLabel: null,
     customThemeSourceUrl: null,
@@ -87,7 +84,6 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     textScale: 100,
     textScaleOverridden: false,
     setTextScale: vi.fn(),
-    resetTextScale: vi.fn(),
     sidebarLiveActivity: true,
     setSidebarLiveActivity: vi.fn(),
     hiddenSessionCatalogIds: new Set<string>(),
@@ -1642,14 +1638,12 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     expect(container.querySelector('button[aria-label="Reset to default"]')).toBeNull();
   });
 
-  it("resets every explicit Appearance override independently", () => {
+  it("keeps direct Appearance defaults while resetting unrelated overrides independently", () => {
     const resetLocale = vi.fn();
     const setTheme = vi.fn();
-    const resetTheme = vi.fn();
     const setThemeMode = vi.fn();
-    const resetThemeMode = vi.fn();
+    const setAccent = vi.fn();
     const setTextScale = vi.fn();
-    const resetTextScale = vi.fn();
     const setSidebarLiveActivity = vi.fn();
     const setChatMessageMaxWidth = vi.fn();
     const setChatSendShortcut = vi.fn();
@@ -1668,15 +1662,15 @@ describe("config view", () => {
       theme: "knot",
       themeOverridden: true,
       setTheme,
-      resetTheme,
       themeMode: "dark",
       themeModeOverridden: true,
       setThemeMode,
-      resetThemeMode,
+      accent: "#52c99a",
+      accentOverridden: true,
+      setAccent,
       textScale: 110,
       textScaleOverridden: true,
       setTextScale,
-      resetTextScale,
       sidebarLiveActivity: false,
       setSidebarLiveActivity,
       chatMessageMaxWidth: "82%",
@@ -1707,10 +1701,21 @@ describe("config view", () => {
           candidate.querySelector(".settings-row__title")?.textContent?.trim() === title,
       ) ?? null;
 
+    findButtonByText(container, "Claw").click();
+    const colorModeGroup = row("Color mode")?.querySelector<HTMLElement & { value: string }>(
+      "wa-radio-group",
+    );
+    expect(colorModeGroup).toBeDefined();
+    if (colorModeGroup) {
+      colorModeGroup.value = "system";
+      colorModeGroup.dispatchEvent(new Event("change", { bubbles: true }));
+    }
+    container.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('[data-accent-preset="default"]')?.click();
+    Array.from(container.querySelectorAll<HTMLButtonElement>(".settings-text-scale__btn"))
+      .find((button) => button.textContent?.includes("100%"))
+      ?.click();
+
     resetIn(container.querySelector("#settings-language .settings-row"));
-    resetIn(container.querySelector("#settings-appearance-theme > .settings-section__header"));
-    resetIn(row("Color mode"));
-    resetIn(container.querySelector("#settings-appearance-text-size > .settings-section__header"));
     resetIn(row("Show live agent activity in sidebar"));
     resetIn(row("Message width"));
     resetIn(row("Send shortcut"));
@@ -1720,9 +1725,10 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     resetIn(row("Lobster sounds"));
 
     expect(resetLocale).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    expect(resetTheme).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    expect(resetThemeMode).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    expect(resetTextScale).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(setTheme).toHaveBeenCalledWith("claw", expect.any(Object));
+    expect(setThemeMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith("system", expect.any(Object));
+    expect(setAccent).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined);
+    expect(setTextScale).toHaveBeenCalledWith(100);
     expect(setSidebarLiveActivity).toHaveBeenCalledWith(true);
     expect(setChatMessageMaxWidth).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined);
     expect(resetChatSendShortcut).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
@@ -1732,9 +1738,9 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     expect(setLobsterPetSounds).toHaveBeenCalledWith(false);
   });
 
-  it("shows reset actions for authored synced values equal to product defaults", () => {
-    const resetTheme = vi.fn();
-    const resetThemeMode = vi.fn();
+  it("keeps authored visual defaults direct while preserving chat preference resets", () => {
+    const setTheme = vi.fn();
+    const setThemeMode = vi.fn();
     const resetChatSendShortcut = vi.fn();
     const { container } = renderConfigView({
       activeSection: "__appearance__",
@@ -1742,11 +1748,11 @@ describe("config view", () => {
       theme: "claw",
       themeOverridden: true,
       themeProvenance: "synced",
-      resetTheme,
+      setTheme,
       themeMode: "system",
       themeModeOverridden: true,
       themeModeProvenance: "synced",
-      resetThemeMode,
+      setThemeMode,
       chatSendShortcut: "enter",
       chatSendShortcutOverridden: true,
       chatSendShortcutProvenance: "synced",
@@ -1761,30 +1767,18 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     expect(normalizedText(themeSection)).toContain("Default: Claw");
     expect(normalizedText(themeSection)).toContain("Default: System");
     expect(shortcutRow?.textContent).toContain("Default: Enter");
-    themeSection
-      .querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(
-        ":scope > .settings-section__header button[aria-label='Reset to default']",
-      )
-      ?.click();
-    const colorModeRow = Array.from(
-      themeSection.querySelectorAll<HTMLElement>(".settings-row"),
-    ).find(
-      (candidate) =>
-        candidate.querySelector(".settings-row__title")?.textContent?.trim() === "Color mode",
-    );
-    colorModeRow
-      ?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>("button[aria-label='Reset to default']")
-      ?.click();
+    findButtonByText(themeSection, "Claw").click();
+    themeSection.querySelector<HTMLElement>('wa-radio[value="system"]')?.click();
     shortcutRow?.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>("button[aria-label='Reset to default']")?.click();
 
-    expect(resetTheme).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    expect(resetThemeMode).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(setTheme).toHaveBeenCalledWith("claw", expect.any(Object));
+    expect(setThemeMode).toHaveBeenCalledWith("system", expect.any(Object));
     expect(resetChatSendShortcut).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
   });
 
-  it("renders rejected theme and locale edits as resettable browser-only fallbacks", () => {
+  it("renders rejected theme and locale edits as browser-only fallbacks", () => {
     const resetLocale = vi.fn();
-    const resetTheme = vi.fn();
+    const setTheme = vi.fn();
     const { container } = renderConfigView({
       activeSection: "__appearance__",
       includeSections: ["__appearance__"],
@@ -1797,7 +1791,7 @@ describe("config view", () => {
       themeOverridden: true,
       themeProvenance: "device-local",
       themeResetValue: "claw",
-      resetTheme,
+      setTheme,
     });
     const languageRow = queryRequired(container, "#settings-language .settings-row", HTMLElement);
     const themeSection = queryRequired(container, "#settings-appearance-theme", HTMLElement);
@@ -1825,14 +1819,10 @@ describe("config view", () => {
     ).toBe("true");
 
     languageRow.querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>('button[aria-label="Reset to default"]')?.click();
-    themeSection
-      .querySelector<HTMLButtonElement>(
-        ":scope > .settings-section__header button[aria-label='Reset to default']",
-      )
-      ?.click();
+    findButtonByText(themeSection, "Claw").click();
 
     expect(resetLocale).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
-    expect(resetTheme).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(setTheme).toHaveBeenCalledWith("claw", expect.any(Object));
   });
 
   it("shows pending synced preferences without claiming they already synced", () => {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/create-params.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/create-params.ts
index 1e9e6fd5721e..683b34c24222 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/new-session/create-params.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/create-params.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { normalizeOptionalString } from "@openclaw/normalization-core/string-coerce";
+import type { SessionCreateParams } from "../../lib/sessions/create.ts";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../../lib/sessions/session-key.ts";
 
 const WORKTREE_NAME_PATTERN = /^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]{0,63}$/;
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ export function buildDraftSessionCreateParams(draft: {
   contextWindow?: string;
   thinkingLevel?: string;
   visibility?: NewSessionVisibility;
-  attachments?: unknown[];
+  attachments?: SessionCreateParams["attachments"];
   projectId?: string;
   worktree: boolean;
   baseRef?: string;
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ export function buildDraftSessionCreateParams(draft: {
   workspace?: string;
   catalogId?: string;
   category?: string;
-}): Record<string, unknown> {
+}): SessionCreateParams {
   const cwd = normalizeOptionalString(draft.cwd);
   const workspace = normalizeOptionalString(draft.workspace);
   const catalogId = normalizeOptionalString(draft.catalogId);
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-gateway-state.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-gateway-state.ts
index 54e03b597d81..8eba8dedc714 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-gateway-state.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-gateway-state.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ export class DraftGatewayState {
   private gatewaySource: ApplicationContext["gateway"] | null = null;
   private gatewayClientValue: ApplicationContext["gateway"]["snapshot"]["client"] = null;
   private gatewayUrlValue = "";
+  private gatewayBootIdValue = "";
   private gatewayRecoveryScopeValue = "";
   private gatewayRecoveryScopeReady = false;
   private gatewayConnectedValue = false;
@@ -178,6 +179,11 @@ export class DraftGatewayState {
     return this.gatewayRecoveryScopeValue;
   }
 
+  get sessionCreateScope(): string {
+    const scope = [this.gatewayUrlValue, this.gatewayRecoveryScopeValue, this.gatewayBootIdValue];
+    return scope.every(Boolean) ? JSON.stringify(scope) : "";
+  }
+
   get connected(): boolean {
     return this.gatewayConnectedValue;
   }
@@ -208,6 +214,15 @@ export class DraftGatewayState {
     const snapshot = gateway.snapshot;
     const connected = snapshot.phase === "connected";
     const firstBind = this.gatewaySource === null;
+    // The Gateway's idempotency ledger is process-local; a new boot cannot safely replay a start.
+    const bootId = connected
+      ? (snapshot.hello?.server?.bootId?.trim() ?? "")
+      : this.gatewayBootIdValue;
+    const gatewayBootChanged =
+      !firstBind &&
+      connected &&
+      Boolean(this.gatewayBootIdValue) &&
+      bootId !== this.gatewayBootIdValue;
     const gatewayUrlChanged = !firstBind && this.gatewayUrlValue !== gateway.connection.gatewayUrl;
     const gatewaySourceChanged = !firstBind && this.gatewaySource !== gateway;
     const identityChanged =
@@ -224,13 +239,20 @@ export class DraftGatewayState {
     this.gatewaySource = gateway;
     this.gatewayClientValue = snapshot.client;
     this.gatewayUrlValue = gateway.connection.gatewayUrl;
+    this.gatewayBootIdValue = bootId;
     this.gatewayRecoveryScopeValue = recoveryScope.next;
     this.gatewayRecoveryScopeReady = snapshot.client?.recoveryScopeReady === true;
     this.gatewayConnectedValue = connected;
     if (this.read().visibility === "draft" && !this.read().canStartAsDraft) {
       this.callbacks.onVisibilityRetired();
     }
-    if (gatewayUrlChanged || identityChanged || connectionChanged || recoveryScope.changed) {
+    if (
+      gatewayUrlChanged ||
+      gatewayBootChanged ||
+      identityChanged ||
+      connectionChanged ||
+      recoveryScope.changed
+    ) {
       const ownerChanged = gatewaySourceChanged || gatewayUrlChanged || recoveryScope.changed;
       const gatewayIdentityChanged = gatewayUrlChanged || recoveryScope.changed;
       this.invalidateDiscovery(
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3cc48d72f537
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS } from "../../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
+import { DraftSessionStartup } from "./draft-session-startup.ts";
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+});
+
+function createStartup() {
+  const gateway = { connected: true, sessionCreateScope: "gateway:principal:boot-a" };
+  const startup = new DraftSessionStartup(gateway);
+  const params = startup.start({ agentId: "main", message: "preserve this task" });
+  return { gateway, params, startup };
+}
+
+describe("DraftSessionStartup", () => {
+  it("resumes the exact frozen direct-create intent once on the same Gateway scope", () => {
+    const { params, startup } = createStartup();
+    expect(params).toMatchObject({
+      agentId: "main",
+      idempotencyKey: expect.any(String),
+      message: "preserve this task",
+    });
+    expect(Object.isFrozen(params)).toBe(true);
+    expect(startup.interrupt()).toBe(true);
+
+    const resumed = startup.resume();
+    expect(resumed).toMatchObject({ kind: "resume", params, startedAt: expect.any(Number) });
+    if (resumed.kind === "resume") {
+      expect(resumed.params).toBe(params);
+    }
+    expect(startup.resume()).toEqual({ kind: "wait" });
+  });
+
+  it("fails closed and unlocks when the Gateway scope or process boot changes", () => {
+    const { gateway, startup } = createStartup();
+    startup.interrupt();
+    gateway.sessionCreateScope = "gateway:principal:boot-b";
+
+    expect(startup.resume()).toEqual({ kind: "owner-changed" });
+    expect(startup.active).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("waits for reconnection without consulting mutable draft selections", () => {
+    const { gateway, params, startup } = createStartup();
+    startup.interrupt();
+    gateway.connected = false;
+
+    expect(startup.resume()).toEqual({ kind: "wait" });
+    expect(startup.active).toBe(true);
+    gateway.connected = true;
+    expect(startup.resume()).toMatchObject({ kind: "resume", params });
+  });
+
+  it("expires and unlocks at the shared client retry deadline", () => {
+    let now = 1_000;
+    vi.spyOn(Date, "now").mockImplementation(() => now);
+    const { startup } = createStartup();
+    startup.interrupt();
+    now += SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS;
+
+    expect(startup.resume()).toEqual({ kind: "expired" });
+    expect(startup.active).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..746b3f924a85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-session-startup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+import { SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS } from "../../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
+import type { SessionCreateParams } from "../../lib/sessions/create.ts";
+import { generateUUID } from "../../lib/uuid.ts";
+import type { DraftGatewayState } from "./draft-gateway-state.ts";
+
+type DraftSessionStartupIntent = {
+  params: SessionCreateParams;
+  scope: string;
+  startedAt: number;
+  deadline: number;
+  interrupted: boolean;
+};
+
+type DraftSessionStartupResume =
+  | { kind: "wait" | "expired" | "owner-changed" }
+  | { kind: "resume"; params: SessionCreateParams; startedAt: number };
+
+export class DraftSessionStartup {
+  private pending: DraftSessionStartupIntent | null = null;
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly gateway: Pick<DraftGatewayState, "connected" | "sessionCreateScope">,
+  ) {}
+
+  get active(): boolean {
+    return this.pending !== null;
+  }
+
+  start(params: SessionCreateParams): SessionCreateParams {
+    const scope = this.gateway.sessionCreateScope;
+    if (!scope) {
+      return params;
+    }
+    if (!this.pending) {
+      const startedAt = Date.now();
+      this.pending = {
+        params: Object.freeze({ ...params, idempotencyKey: generateUUID() }),
+        scope,
+        startedAt,
+        deadline: startedAt + SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS,
+        interrupted: false,
+      };
+    }
+    return this.pending.params;
+  }
+
+  clear() {
+    this.pending = null;
+  }
+
+  interrupt(): boolean {
+    if (!this.pending || !this.matchesGateway()) {
+      this.clear();
+      return false;
+    }
+    this.pending.interrupted = true;
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  retireChangedOwner(): boolean {
+    if (!this.pending || this.matchesGateway()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    this.clear();
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  resume(): DraftSessionStartupResume {
+    if (!this.pending?.interrupted) {
+      return { kind: "wait" };
+    }
+    if (Date.now() >= this.pending.deadline) {
+      this.clear();
+      return { kind: "expired" };
+    }
+    if (!this.matchesGateway()) {
+      this.clear();
+      return { kind: "owner-changed" };
+    }
+    if (!this.gateway.connected) {
+      return { kind: "wait" };
+    }
+    this.pending.interrupted = false;
+    return { kind: "resume", params: this.pending.params, startedAt: this.pending.startedAt };
+  }
+
+  private matchesGateway(): boolean {
+    return this.pending?.scope === this.gateway.sessionCreateScope;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.test.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.test.ts
index 9bd22844a1bf..e2d3e776d714 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { ReactiveController, ReactiveControllerHost } from "lit";
 import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS } from "../../../../packages/gateway-protocol/src/index.js";
 import type { ApplicationContext } from "../../app/context.ts";
 import { CHAT_ROUTE_READY_EVENT } from "../../app/route-transition.ts";
 import { writeSessionPlacementRecovery } from "../../lib/sessions/session-placement-recovery.ts";
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ class ControllerHost implements ReactiveControllerHost {
 }
 
 afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
   vi.unstubAllGlobals();
   sessionStorage.clear();
   localStorage.clear();
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ function createDraftFixture(options: FixtureOptions = {}) {
         hello:
           phase === "connected"
             ? {
+                server: { bootId: "gateway-boot-a" },
                 auth: {
                   role: "operator",
                   scopes: options.scopes ?? ["operator.read", "operator.write"],
@@ -362,6 +365,95 @@ describe("DraftSubmissionFlow submit gates", () => {
 });
 
 describe("DraftSubmissionFlow", () => {
+  it("replays a frozen direct create without inheriting refreshed placement or mutable submit gates", async () => {
+    const { context, flow, place } = createDraftFixture({
+      methods: ["sessions.create", "sessions.dispatch"],
+      scopes: ["operator.admin", "operator.read", "operator.write"],
+    });
+    let finishOriginal!: (value: { key: string; initialRun: { status: "idle" } }) => void;
+    const original = new Promise<{ key: string; initialRun: { status: "idle" } }>((resolve) => {
+      finishOriginal = resolve;
+    });
+    const result = { key: "agent:main:direct-resumed", initialRun: { status: "idle" as const } };
+    vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult)
+      .mockImplementationOnce(() => original)
+      .mockResolvedValueOnce(result);
+    vi.mocked(context.navigateAndWait).mockImplementation(async () => {
+      queueMicrotask(() => document.dispatchEvent(new Event(CHAT_ROUTE_READY_EVENT)));
+    });
+    flow.setMessage("keep the original direct request");
+
+    const initialSubmission = flow.submit();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+    const originalParams = vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult).mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+    flow.invalidate("gateway-changed");
+    place.applyPendingPlacement({ agentId: "main", profileId: "new-cloud-discovery" });
+    expect(flow.canSubmit()).toBe(false);
+    expect(flow.submitting).toBe(true);
+
+    flow.resumeInterruptedSubmission();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2));
+    expect(vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult).mock.calls[1]?.[0]).toEqual(originalParams);
+    expect(flow.pendingPlacement.sessionKey).toBe("");
+    finishOriginal(result);
+    await initialSubmission;
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(flow.submitting).toBe(false));
+  });
+
+  it("unlocks visibly when a frozen retry loses sessions.create access", async () => {
+    const { context, flow } = createDraftFixture();
+    let finishOriginal!: (value: { key: string; initialRun: { status: "idle" } }) => void;
+    vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult).mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          finishOriginal = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+    flow.setMessage("do not replay without authority");
+    const initialSubmission = flow.submit();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+    flow.invalidate("gateway-changed");
+    if (context.gateway.snapshot.hello?.features) {
+      context.gateway.snapshot.hello.features.methods = [];
+    }
+
+    flow.resumeInterruptedSubmission();
+
+    expect(flow.error).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(flow.submitting).toBe(false);
+    expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    finishOriginal({ key: "agent:main:old", initialRun: { status: "idle" } });
+    await initialSubmission;
+  });
+
+  it("expires an interrupted direct create and unlocks with an explicit unknown outcome", async () => {
+    const clock = vi.spyOn(Date, "now");
+    let now = 1_000;
+    clock.mockImplementation(() => now);
+    const { context, flow } = createDraftFixture();
+    let finishOriginal!: (value: { key: string; initialRun: { status: "idle" } }) => void;
+    vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult).mockImplementationOnce(
+      () =>
+        new Promise((resolve) => {
+          finishOriginal = resolve;
+        }),
+    );
+    flow.setMessage("the original outcome is unknown");
+    const initialSubmission = flow.submit();
+    await vi.waitFor(() => expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledOnce());
+    flow.invalidate("gateway-changed");
+    now += SESSION_CREATE_RETRY_WINDOW_MS;
+
+    flow.resumeInterruptedSubmission();
+
+    expect(flow.submissionOutcomeUnknown).toBe("gateway-changed");
+    expect(flow.submitting).toBe(false);
+    expect(context.sessions.createResult).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    finishOriginal({ key: "agent:main:old", initialRun: { status: "idle" } });
+    await initialSubmission;
+    clock.mockRestore();
+  });
+
   it("surfaces navigation failure after a session has already been created", async () => {
     const { context, flow } = createDraftFixture();
     vi.mocked(context.sessions.createResult).mockResolvedValue({
@@ -729,14 +821,24 @@ describe("DraftSubmissionFlow", () => {
   });
 
   it.each([
-    { scenario: "keeps startup progress active through navigation", navigationError: null },
+    {
+      scenario: "keeps startup progress active through navigation",
+      navigationError: null,
+      canonicalSessionKey: null,
+    },
+    {
+      scenario: "keeps placement ownership when the Gateway promotes a new session key",
+      navigationError: null,
+      canonicalSessionKey: "agent:cloud:dashboard:server-key",
+    },
     {
       scenario: "surfaces navigation failure after placement startup commits",
       navigationError: "Placement chat route failed to load",
+      canonicalSessionKey: null,
     },
-  ])("$scenario", async ({ navigationError }) => {
+  ])("$scenario", async ({ canonicalSessionKey, navigationError }) => {
     const createResult = vi.fn(async (params: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
-      key: String(params.key),
+      key: canonicalSessionKey ?? String(params.key),
       initialRun: { status: "idle" as const },
     }));
     const start = vi.fn(
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.ts
index 83103ec5bda0..f83719160614 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/draft-submission-flow.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   type SessionMethodAccess,
 } from "../../lib/session-method-access.ts";
 import { openTerminalSessionInTerminal } from "../../lib/sessions/catalog-terminal.ts";
+import type { SessionCreateParams } from "../../lib/sessions/create.ts";
 import { normalizeAgentId } from "../../lib/sessions/session-key.ts";
 import type { SessionPlacementRecovery } from "../../lib/sessions/session-placement-recovery.ts";
 import {
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ import {
   projectDraftSessionPlacementRecovery,
   resolveDraftSessionPlacement,
 } from "./draft-session-placement.ts";
+import { DraftSessionStartup } from "./draft-session-startup.ts";
 import type {
   DraftSubmissionCallbacks,
   DraftSubmissionSnapshot,
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
   private readonly startedSession = new StartedSessionNavigation();
   error: string | null = null;
   private submitRequestToken = 0;
+  private readonly sessionStartup: DraftSessionStartup;
   readonly pendingPlacement = new PendingSessionPlacementRecoveryState();
   readonly attachmentDraft: NewSessionAttachmentDraft;
   readonly composerTextarea = new NewSessionComposerTextareaController();
@@ -69,6 +72,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
     private readonly read: () => DraftSubmissionSnapshot,
     private readonly callbacks: DraftSubmissionCallbacks,
   ) {
+    this.sessionStartup = new DraftSessionStartup(gateway);
     this.draftPersistence = new NewSessionDraftPersistence(
       () => ({
         message: this.messageValue,
@@ -102,13 +106,23 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
   }
 
   get submitting(): boolean {
-    return this.submittingValue;
+    return this.submittingValue || this.sessionStartup.active;
   }
 
   get submissionOutcomeUnknown(): SubmissionOutcomeReason | null {
     return this.submissionOutcomeUnknownValue;
   }
 
+  resumeInterruptedSubmission() {
+    const startup = this.sessionStartup.resume();
+    if (startup.kind === "resume") {
+      void this.submit(startup);
+    } else if (startup.kind !== "wait") {
+      this.submissionOutcomeUnknownValue = "gateway-changed";
+      this.callbacks.requestUpdate();
+    }
+  }
+
   setMessage(message: string) {
     this.startedSession.current = null;
     this.messageValue = message;
@@ -209,10 +223,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
   private buildDraftSessionCreateParams(
     options: {
       message?: string;
-      attachments?: unknown[];
+      attachments?: SessionCreateParams["attachments"];
       visibility?: NewSessionVisibility;
     } = {},
-  ): Record<string, unknown> {
+  ): SessionCreateParams {
     const snapshot = this.read();
     return assembleDraftSessionCreateParams({
       agentId: this.place.agentId,
@@ -246,22 +260,16 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         requiredScope: "operator.write",
       });
     }
-    if (!pendingPlacement || this.pendingPlacement.phase === "creating") {
+    const target = this.placement().target;
+    if (!target || !pendingPlacement || this.pendingPlacement.phase === "creating") {
       const createAccess = readSessionMethodAccess(gateway, {
         method: "sessions.create",
         params: createParams,
       });
-      if (!createAccess.allowed || !this.placement().target) {
+      if (!createAccess.allowed || !target) {
         return createAccess;
       }
     }
-    const target = this.placement().target;
-    if (!target) {
-      return readSessionMethodAccess(gateway, {
-        method: "sessions.create",
-        params: createParams,
-      });
-    }
     return readSessionMethodAccess(gateway, {
       method: "sessions.dispatch",
       requiredScope: target.kind === "profile" ? "operator.admin" : "operator.write",
@@ -322,7 +330,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
           ),
         placementTargetForSubmission: () => this.placement().target,
         cloudDisabledReason: () => this.cloudDisabledReason(),
-        cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason: () => this.cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason(),
+        cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason: () =>
+          this.place.modelControl.cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason(
+            this.gateway.cloudProfiles.find((profile) => profile.id === this.place.cloudProfileId),
+          ),
       },
       kind,
     );
@@ -359,7 +370,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
   invalidate(outcomeUnknown: SubmissionOutcomeReason | null = null) {
     this.submitRequestToken += 1;
     this.startedSession.current = null;
-    if (outcomeUnknown && this.submittingValue) {
+    if (
+      (outcomeUnknown && this.submittingValue && !this.sessionStartup.interrupt()) ||
+      this.sessionStartup.retireChangedOwner()
+    ) {
       this.submissionOutcomeUnknownValue = outcomeUnknown;
     }
     this.submittingValue = false;
@@ -367,6 +381,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
   }
 
   resetDraft() {
+    this.sessionStartup.clear();
     const preservePendingPlacement = Boolean(this.pendingPlacement.sessionKey);
     this.blockedSubmitGate = null;
     this.invalidate();
@@ -413,22 +428,27 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
     this.applyRecoveryDraft(recovery);
   }
 
-  async submit() {
+  async submit(startup?: { params: SessionCreateParams; startedAt: number }) {
     const context = this.read().context;
-    if (!context || !this.canSubmit()) {
+    if (!context || (!startup && !this.canSubmit())) {
       this.noteBlockedSubmitAttempt();
       return;
     }
     this.blockedSubmitGate = null;
-    const pendingPlacement = Boolean(this.pendingPlacement.sessionKey);
-    const message = pendingPlacement ? this.pendingPlacement.message : this.messageValue.trim();
+    const pendingPlacement = !startup && Boolean(this.pendingPlacement.sessionKey);
+    const message =
+      startup?.params.message ??
+      (pendingPlacement ? this.pendingPlacement.message : this.messageValue.trim());
     const attachments = this.attachmentDraft.attachments;
-    const apiAttachments = pendingPlacement
-      ? this.pendingPlacement.attachments
-      : buildChatApiAttachments(attachments);
-    const submissionAgentId = pendingPlacement
-      ? this.pendingPlacement.agentId
-      : normalizeAgentId(this.place.agentId);
+    const draftAttachments = startup
+      ? startup.params.attachments
+      : pendingPlacement
+        ? undefined
+        : buildChatApiAttachments(attachments);
+    const apiAttachments = pendingPlacement ? this.pendingPlacement.attachments : draftAttachments;
+    const submissionAgentId =
+      startup?.params.agentId ??
+      (pendingPlacement ? this.pendingPlacement.agentId : normalizeAgentId(this.place.agentId));
     const submissionGatewayUrl = pendingPlacement
       ? this.pendingPlacement.gatewayUrl
       : context.gateway.connection.gatewayUrl;
@@ -440,7 +460,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
       ? this.pendingPlacement.recoveryScope
       : submissionClient.recoveryScope;
     const requestId = ++this.submitRequestToken;
-    const submittedAt = Date.now();
+    const submittedAt = startup?.startedAt ?? Date.now();
     this.submittingValue = true;
     this.error = null;
     this.place.browser.close();
@@ -453,7 +473,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         return;
       }
       this.startedSession.current = null;
-      const remoteProject = pendingPlacement ? null : this.place.browser.remoteProject;
+      const remoteProject = pendingPlacement || startup ? null : this.place.browser.remoteProject;
       if (remoteProject && !remoteProject.projectId && !this.place.browser.projectId) {
         const project = await submissionClient.request<ProjectsAddResult>(
           "projects.add",
@@ -465,13 +485,17 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         }
         this.place.browser.recordRemoteProjectId(remoteProject.cloneUrl, project.id);
       }
-      const { target: placementTarget } = this.placement();
-      const draftRetired = this.visibilityValue === "draft" && !this.canStartAsDraft();
-      const createParams = this.buildDraftSessionCreateParams({
-        message: placementTarget ? "" : message,
-        visibility: draftRetired ? "normal" : this.visibilityValue,
-        attachments: placementTarget ? undefined : apiAttachments,
-      });
+      const placementTarget = startup ? null : this.placement().target;
+      const createParams =
+        startup?.params ??
+        this.buildDraftSessionCreateParams({
+          message: placementTarget ? "" : message,
+          visibility:
+            this.visibilityValue === "draft" && !this.canStartAsDraft()
+              ? "normal"
+              : this.visibilityValue,
+          attachments: placementTarget ? undefined : draftAttachments,
+        });
       const placementCreateParams = placementTarget
         ? pendingPlacement
           ? this.pendingPlacement.createParams
@@ -486,27 +510,26 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
               persistent: this.visibilityValue !== "incognito",
             })
         : undefined;
-      const requestAccess = this.submissionAccess(placementCreateParams ?? createParams);
+      const requestAccess = startup
+        ? readSessionMethodAccess(context.gateway.snapshot, {
+            method: "sessions.create",
+            params: createParams,
+          })
+        : this.submissionAccess(placementCreateParams ?? createParams);
       if (!requestAccess.allowed) {
+        this.sessionStartup.clear();
         this.error = requestAccess.reason;
         return;
       }
-      if (placementTarget && !pendingPlacement && !placementCreateParams) {
-        this.error = t("newSession.placementStartFailed", {
-          error: "placement recovery storage is unavailable",
-        });
-        return;
-      }
       const submissionPlacementRecovery = placementTarget ? this.pendingPlacement.capture() : null;
       if (placementTarget && !submissionPlacementRecovery) {
-        this.error = t("newSession.placementStartFailed", {
-          error: "placement recovery storage is unavailable",
-        });
+        this.setPlacementRecoveryUnavailable();
         return;
       }
       const recoveryOwnerKey = submissionPlacementRecovery?.sessionKey ?? "";
-      const ownsSubmissionRecovery = () =>
-        this.pendingPlacement.owns(submissionGatewayUrl, submissionRecoveryScope, recoveryOwnerKey);
+      const ownsRecovery = (sessionKey: string) =>
+        this.pendingPlacement.owns(submissionGatewayUrl, submissionRecoveryScope, sessionKey);
+      const ownsSubmissionRecovery = () => ownsRecovery(recoveryOwnerKey);
       const isSubmissionLifecycleCurrent = () =>
         this.read().isConnected &&
         submissionClient.recoveryScopeReady &&
@@ -517,9 +540,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
       const result =
         pendingPlacement && this.pendingPlacement.phase !== "creating"
           ? { key: this.pendingPlacement.sessionKey, initialRun: { status: "idle" as const } }
-          : await context.sessions.createResult(placementCreateParams ?? createParams, {
-              reconciliation: "background",
-            });
+          : await context.sessions.createResult(
+              placementCreateParams ?? startup?.params ?? this.sessionStartup.start(createParams),
+              { reconciliation: "background" },
+            );
       if (requestId !== this.submitRequestToken && !placementTarget) {
         return;
       }
@@ -527,6 +551,7 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         if (requestId !== this.submitRequestToken) {
           return;
         }
+        this.sessionStartup.clear();
         this.error = context.sessions.state.error ?? t("newSession.createFailed");
         return;
       }
@@ -553,20 +578,15 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         if (
           submissionPlacementRecovery.phase === "creating" &&
           isSubmissionLifecycleCurrent() &&
-          ownsSubmissionRecovery()
+          ownsSubmissionRecovery() &&
+          !this.pendingPlacement.promoteToDispatching(result.key)
         ) {
-          if (!this.pendingPlacement.promoteToDispatching(result.key)) {
-            this.error = t("newSession.placementStartFailed", {
-              error: "placement recovery storage is unavailable",
-            });
-            return;
-          }
+          this.setPlacementRecoveryUnavailable();
+          return;
         }
         const recovery = this.pendingPlacement.capture();
         if (!recovery || recovery.phase === "creating") {
-          this.error = t("newSession.placementStartFailed", {
-            error: "placement recovery storage is unavailable",
-          });
+          this.setPlacementRecoveryUnavailable();
           return;
         }
         if (requestId !== this.submitRequestToken) {
@@ -578,27 +598,13 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
           recovering: pendingPlacement,
           createdAt: submittedAt,
         });
-        if (
-          requestId !== this.submitRequestToken ||
-          !isSubmissionLifecycleCurrent() ||
-          !this.pendingPlacement.owns(
-            submissionGatewayUrl,
-            submissionRecoveryScope,
-            recovery.sessionKey,
-          )
-        ) {
+        const ownsStartedPlacement = () =>
+          isSubmissionLifecycleCurrent() && ownsRecovery(recovery.sessionKey);
+        if (!ownsStartedPlacement()) {
           return;
         }
         await this.draftPersistence.clearSubmittedDraft();
-        if (
-          requestId !== this.submitRequestToken ||
-          !isSubmissionLifecycleCurrent() ||
-          !this.pendingPlacement.owns(
-            submissionGatewayUrl,
-            submissionRecoveryScope,
-            recovery.sessionKey,
-          )
-        ) {
+        if (!ownsStartedPlacement()) {
           return;
         }
         this.pendingPlacement.reset();
@@ -645,8 +651,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
         key: result.key,
         agentId: submissionAgentId,
       });
+      this.sessionStartup.clear();
     } catch (error) {
       if (requestId === this.submitRequestToken && this.gateway.client === submissionClient) {
+        this.sessionStartup.clear();
         this.error = error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error);
       }
     } finally {
@@ -720,11 +728,10 @@ export class DraftSubmissionFlow {
 
   private placement = () => resolveDraftSessionPlacement(this.pendingPlacement, this.place);
 
-  private cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason(): string | undefined {
-    const profile = this.gateway.cloudProfiles.find(
-      (candidate) => candidate.id === this.place.cloudProfileId,
-    );
-    return this.place.modelControl.cloudRuntimeUnsupportedReason(profile);
+  private setPlacementRecoveryUnavailable() {
+    this.error = t("newSession.placementStartFailed", {
+      error: "placement recovery storage is unavailable",
+    });
   }
 
   private applyRecoveryDraft(recovery: SessionPlacementRecovery) {
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/new-session/new-session-page.ts b/ui/src/pages/new-session/new-session-page.ts
index 6d2f24320e54..f6d3512779a1 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/new-session/new-session-page.ts
+++ b/ui/src/pages/new-session/new-session-page.ts
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ export class NewSessionPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
     }
     this.place.restorePreferenceSelections();
     activateDraft(this.submission, openKey);
+    this.submission.resumeInterruptedSubmission();
   }
 
   private invalidateGatewayDiscovery(
@@ -594,7 +595,7 @@ export class NewSessionPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
           agent: this.place.selectedAgent(),
           agentId: this.place.agentId,
           attachmentDraft: this.submission.attachmentDraft,
-          canSubmit: this.submission.canSubmit(),
+          canSubmit: !this.submission.submitting && this.submission.canSubmit(),
           submitDisabledReason: this.submission.submitDisabledReason(),
           blockedSubmitNotice: this.submission.blockedSubmitNotice(),
           context: this.context,
@@ -610,7 +611,7 @@ export class NewSessionPage extends OpenClawLightDomElement {
           messageLocked: Boolean(this.submission.pendingPlacement.sessionKey),
           terminalAction: this.submission.showStartInTerminal()
             ? {
-                canStart: this.submission.canSubmit("terminal"),
+                canStart: !this.submission.submitting && this.submission.canSubmit("terminal"),
                 disabledReason: this.submission.terminalStartDisabledReason(),
                 onStart: () => void this.submission.startInTerminal(),
               }