diff --git a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/protocol/Protocol.kt b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/protocol/Protocol.kt
index 96b4864..f0c0669 100644
--- a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/protocol/Protocol.kt
+++ b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/protocol/Protocol.kt
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ const val TYPE_CHANNEL_RENAME = "channel.rename"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_DEFAULT = "channel.set_default"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_FAVORITE = "channel.favorite"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_ICON = "channel.icon"
+const val TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_AUTOMATION = "channel.set_automation"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_DELETE = "channel.delete"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_CREATED = "channel.created"
 const val TYPE_CHANNEL_RENAMED = "channel.renamed"
@@ -168,6 +169,10 @@ data class ChannelInfo(
     /** Cosmetic avatar color override ("#RRGGBB"), or null for the
      *  auto-generated name-hash color. */
     val color: String? = null,
+    /** Automation channel: read-only for the user. It only receives
+     *  gateway-originated output (cron jobs, webhooks); the app hides the
+     *  composer and the gateway rejects direct sends into it. */
+    val automation: Boolean = false,
 )
 
 @Serializable
@@ -339,6 +344,9 @@ data class ChannelRenamePayload(val name: String)
 @Serializable
 data class ChannelFavoritePayload(val on: Boolean)
 
+@Serializable
+data class ChannelSetAutomationPayload(val on: Boolean)
+
 @Serializable
 data class ChannelIconPayload(
     /** base64-encoded image, or null to clear the icon. */
@@ -540,6 +548,17 @@ fun channelFavoriteFrame(id: Int, chatId: String, on: Boolean): Frame =
         ),
     )
 
+fun channelSetAutomationFrame(id: Int, chatId: String, on: Boolean): Frame =
+    Frame(
+        id = id,
+        type = TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_AUTOMATION,
+        chatId = chatId,
+        payload = IrisJson.instance.encodeToJsonElement(
+            ChannelSetAutomationPayload.serializer(),
+            ChannelSetAutomationPayload(on = on),
+        ),
+    )
+
 fun channelIconFrame(id: Int, chatId: String, icon: String?, color: String?): Frame =
     Frame(
         id = id,
diff --git a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/state/IrisController.kt b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/state/IrisController.kt
index 18e2175..8a42947 100644
--- a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/state/IrisController.kt
+++ b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/state/IrisController.kt
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ import iris.protocol.channelFavoriteFrame
 import iris.protocol.channelIconFrame
 import iris.protocol.channelListFrame
 import iris.protocol.channelRenameFrame
+import iris.protocol.channelSetAutomationFrame
 import iris.protocol.channelSetDefaultFrame
 import iris.protocol.historyFrame
 import iris.protocol.messageDeleteFrame
@@ -553,6 +554,12 @@ class IrisController(
         client.sendFrame(channelFavoriteFrame(0, chatId, on))
     }
 
+    /** Mark the channel as automation (read-only; cron/webhook output only).
+     *  The default channel cannot be marked (the server enforces this too). */
+    fun setChannelAutomation(chatId: String, on: Boolean) {
+        client.sendFrame(channelSetAutomationFrame(0, chatId, on))
+    }
+
     /** Set the channel's cosmetic icon (base64 image) and/or avatar color.
      *  Pass null to clear a field. */
     fun setChannelIcon(chatId: String, icon: String?, color: String?) {
@@ -618,16 +625,21 @@ class IrisController(
             )
         }
         chat.addPending(trimmed, lane, media)
-        client.sendMessage(chatId, trimmed, threadId, refs, autoThread = wantsAutoThread(trimmed, threadId))
+        client.sendMessage(chatId, trimmed, threadId, refs, autoThread = wantsAutoThread(trimmed, threadId, chatId))
         _attachments.value = emptyList()
     }
 
-    /** Auto-threading (Settings → "Threads", docs/06 §6.3): a message in a
-     *  channel's flat lane gets its own fresh thread, AI-named by the gateway
-     *  (Telegram topic-mode workflow). Slash commands and media-only sends
-     *  stay in the flat lane. */
-    private fun wantsAutoThread(text: String, threadId: String?): Boolean =
-        _threadsEnabled.value && threadId == null && text.isNotEmpty() && !text.startsWith("/")
+    /** Auto-threading (Settings → "Threads", docs/06 §6.3): a message in the
+     *  default channel's flat lane gets its own fresh thread, AI-named by the
+     *  gateway (Telegram topic-mode workflow). Threading is only active on
+     *  the default channel; other channels stay flat. Slash commands and
+     *  media-only sends stay in the flat lane. */
+    private fun wantsAutoThread(text: String, threadId: String?, chatId: String): Boolean =
+        _threadsEnabled.value &&
+            threadId == null &&
+            text.isNotEmpty() &&
+            !text.startsWith("/") &&
+            channels.byId(chatId)?.isDefault == true
 
     /** M7: resend a failed user message (tap on the failed bubble). */
     fun retrySend(messageId: String) {
@@ -641,7 +653,7 @@ class IrisController(
             item.text,
             threadId,
             item.media.map { it.mediaId },
-            autoThread = wantsAutoThread(item.text, threadId),
+            autoThread = wantsAutoThread(item.text, threadId, chatId),
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/ui/screens/ChatScreen.kt b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/ui/screens/ChatScreen.kt
index 35a78a5..b674ca5 100644
--- a/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/ui/screens/ChatScreen.kt
+++ b/app/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/iris/ui/screens/ChatScreen.kt
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import androidx.compose.foundation.verticalScroll
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.Icons
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Favorite
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.KeyboardArrowDown
+import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Settings
 import androidx.compose.material.icons.filled.Star
 import androidx.compose.material3.AlertDialog
 import androidx.compose.material3.Button
@@ -264,7 +265,11 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                 showSearch || showPicker || showPalette || showNewChannel || showNewThread || showSettings
             when {
                 ctrlOrMeta && e.key == Key.N -> { showNewChannel = true; true }
-                ctrlOrMeta && e.key == Key.T -> { showNewThread = true; true }
+                // Threads are only active on the default channel.
+                ctrlOrMeta && e.key == Key.T -> {
+                    if (currentChannel?.isDefault == true) showNewThread = true
+                    true
+                }
                 ctrlOrMeta && e.key == Key.F -> { showSearch = true; true }
                 ctrlOrMeta && e.key == Key.K -> { showPalette = true; true }
                 e.key == Key.Escape && overlayOpen -> {
@@ -304,6 +309,11 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
             selectedIds = setOf(id)
         }
 
+        // Automation channels are read-only for the user (cron/webhook output
+        // only): the composer is replaced by a notice, and the gateway rejects
+        // direct sends into them anyway.
+        val isAutomation = currentChannel?.automation == true
+
         fun toggleSelect(id: String) {
             selectedIds = if (id in selectedIds) selectedIds - id else selectedIds + id
             if (selectedIds.isEmpty()) selectionMode = false
@@ -335,7 +345,11 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                         Text("☰", fontSize = 18.sp)
                     }
                 }
-                TitlePill(currentChannel, Modifier.weight(1f))
+                val headerClipboard = LocalClipboardManager.current
+                TitlePill(currentChannel, Modifier.weight(1f)) { id ->
+                    headerClipboard.setText(AnnotatedString(id))
+                    toastMessage = "Copied $id"
+                }
                 Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(6.dp))
                 StatusBubble(state) { toastMessage = statusToastText(state) }
                 Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(4.dp))
@@ -358,8 +372,9 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                 }
             }
 
-            // Topic switcher (threads on)
-            if (threadsEnabled) {
+            // Topic switcher (threads on; the default channel only — other channels
+            // don't use threads).
+            if (threadsEnabled && currentChannel?.isDefault == true) {
                 TopicSwitcher(
                     threads = threads,
                     currentThreadId = currentThreadId,
@@ -469,8 +484,8 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                 }
             }
 
-            // Pending attachments (M4)
-            if (attachments.isNotEmpty()) {
+            // Pending attachments (M4; hidden in automation channels — no composer)
+            if (attachments.isNotEmpty() && !isAutomation) {
                 Row(
                     modifier = Modifier
                         .fillMaxWidth()
@@ -552,7 +567,28 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                 isConnected && (input.isNotBlank() || attachments.any { it.mediaRef != null && it.error == null })
             val layoutDensity = LocalDensity.current.density
             var textHeightPx by remember { mutableFloatStateOf(0f) }
-            if (!selectionMode) Row(
+            if (isAutomation) {
+                // Read-only notice in place of the composer.
+                Box(
+                    modifier = Modifier
+                        .fillMaxWidth()
+                        .padding(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
+                    contentAlignment = Alignment.Center,
+                ) {
+                    Box(
+                        modifier = Modifier
+                            .clip(RoundedCornerShape(16.dp))
+                            .background(IrisColors.panel)
+                            .padding(horizontal = 14.dp, vertical = 8.dp),
+                    ) {
+                        Text(
+                            "⚙ Automation channel — read-only. Hermes posts cron/webhook output here; direct messages are not allowed.",
+                            fontSize = 12.sp,
+                            color = IrisColors.textTertiary,
+                        )
+                    }
+                }
+            } else if (!selectionMode) Row(
                 modifier = Modifier
                     .fillMaxWidth()
                     .padding(horizontal = 12.dp, vertical = 8.dp)
@@ -687,6 +723,7 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                     onRename = { ch -> channelToRename = ch },
                     onToggleFavorite = { ch -> controller.setChannelFavorite(ch.chatId, !ch.favorite) },
                     onEditIcon = { ch -> channelToEditIcon = ch },
+                    onToggleAutomation = { ch -> controller.setChannelAutomation(ch.chatId, !ch.automation) },
                     onDelete = { ch -> channelToDelete = ch },
                     onOpenSettings = { showSettings = true },
                 )
@@ -734,6 +771,10 @@ fun ChatScreen(controller: IrisController) {
                                 channelToEditIcon = ch
                                 drawerScope.launch { drawerState.close() }
                             },
+                            onToggleAutomation = { ch ->
+                                controller.setChannelAutomation(ch.chatId, !ch.automation)
+                                drawerScope.launch { drawerState.close() }
+                            },
                             onDelete = { ch ->
                                 channelToDelete = ch
                                 drawerScope.launch { drawerState.close() }
@@ -973,14 +1014,30 @@ private fun SystemMessage(msg: MessageItem) {
     }
 }
 
-/** M7: header title pill — channel avatar + channel name + "Bot" subtitle. */
+/** M7: header title pill — channel avatar + channel name. Automation
+ *  channels show their chat_id as a subtitle (tap the pill to copy it) so
+ *  the user can target them for cron delivery (`deliver="android:<chat_id>"`)
+ *  without asking the agent which channel is in use. */
 @Composable
-private fun TitlePill(channel: ChannelInfo?, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
+private fun TitlePill(
+    channel: ChannelInfo?,
+    modifier: Modifier = Modifier,
+    onCopyChatId: (String) -> Unit = {},
+) {
     val channelName = channel?.name ?: "Iris"
+    val chatId = channel?.chatId
+    val isAutomation = channel?.automation == true
     Box(
         modifier = modifier
             .clip(RoundedCornerShape(16.dp))
             .background(IrisColors.surface)
+            .then(
+                if (isAutomation) {
+                    Modifier.clickable { chatId?.let(onCopyChatId) }
+                } else {
+                    Modifier
+                }
+            )
             .padding(start = 8.dp, end = 12.dp, top = 4.dp, bottom = 4.dp),
     ) {
         Row(verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically) {
@@ -995,11 +1052,15 @@ private fun TitlePill(channel: ChannelInfo?, modifier: Modifier = Modifier) {
                     maxLines = 1,
                     overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
                 )
-                Text(
-                    "Bot",
-                    style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
-                    color = IrisColors.textDim,
-                )
+                if (isAutomation && chatId != null) {
+                    Text(
+                        chatId,
+                        style = MaterialTheme.typography.bodySmall,
+                        color = IrisColors.textDim,
+                        maxLines = 1,
+                        overflow = TextOverflow.Ellipsis,
+                    )
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1087,7 +1148,8 @@ private fun IconImage(base64: String, size: Dp) {
 
 /**
  * Trailing badges for a channel row: a star marks the default (home) channel,
- * a heart marks a favorited channel. A channel that is both shows both.
+ * a heart marks a favorited channel, a gear marks an automation channel
+ * (read-only; cron/webhook output only).
  */
 @Composable
 private fun ChannelBadges(ch: ChannelInfo) {
@@ -1109,12 +1171,22 @@ private fun ChannelBadges(ch: ChannelInfo) {
             tint = IrisColors.textMuted,
         )
     }
+    if (ch.automation) {
+        Spacer(modifier = Modifier.width(4.dp))
+        Icon(
+            imageVector = Icons.Filled.Settings,
+            contentDescription = "Automation channel (read-only)",
+            modifier = Modifier.size(14.dp),
+            tint = IrisColors.textMuted,
+        )
+    }
 }
 
 /**
  * Long-press / right-click context menu for a channel row: rename, favorite
- * (state-aware), icon (state-aware), delete. The default channel cannot be
- * deleted (the server enforces this too), so its "Delete" item is hidden.
+ * (state-aware), icon (state-aware), automation (state-aware), delete. The
+ * default channel cannot be deleted or marked automation (the server enforces
+ * both), so those items are hidden for it.
  */
 @Composable
 private fun ChannelContextMenu(
@@ -1124,6 +1196,7 @@ private fun ChannelContextMenu(
     onRename: () -> Unit,
     onToggleFavorite: () -> Unit,
     onEditIcon: () -> Unit,
+    onToggleAutomation: () -> Unit,
     onDelete: () -> Unit,
 ) {
     val hasIcon = ch.icon != null || ch.color != null
@@ -1138,6 +1211,10 @@ private fun ChannelContextMenu(
             onClick = { onDismiss(); onEditIcon() },
         )
         if (!ch.isDefault) {
+            DropdownMenuItem(
+                text = { Text(if (ch.automation) "Unmark automation" else "Mark as automation") },
+                onClick = { onDismiss(); onToggleAutomation() },
+            )
             DropdownMenuItem(text = { Text("Delete") }, onClick = { onDismiss(); onDelete() })
         }
     }
@@ -1236,6 +1313,7 @@ private fun ChannelDrawer(
     onRename: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onToggleFavorite: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onEditIcon: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
+    onToggleAutomation: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onDelete: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onOpenSettings: () -> Unit,
 ) {
@@ -1280,6 +1358,7 @@ private fun ChannelDrawer(
                         onRename = { onRename(ch) },
                         onToggleFavorite = { onToggleFavorite(ch) },
                         onEditIcon = { onEditIcon(ch) },
+                        onToggleAutomation = { onToggleAutomation(ch) },
                         onDelete = { onDelete(ch) },
                     )
                 }
@@ -1313,6 +1392,7 @@ private fun ChannelRail(
     onRename: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onToggleFavorite: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onEditIcon: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
+    onToggleAutomation: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onDelete: (ChannelInfo) -> Unit,
     onOpenSettings: () -> Unit,
 ) {
@@ -1401,6 +1481,7 @@ private fun ChannelRail(
                         onRename = { onRename(ch) },
                         onToggleFavorite = { onToggleFavorite(ch) },
                         onEditIcon = { onEditIcon(ch) },
+                        onToggleAutomation = { onToggleAutomation(ch) },
                         onDelete = { onDelete(ch) },
                     )
                 }
@@ -1448,6 +1529,7 @@ private fun InspectorPane(
         InfoRow("Name", currentChannel?.name ?: "—")
         InfoRow("ID", currentChannel?.chatId ?: "—")
         InfoRow("Default", if (currentChannel?.isDefault == true) "yes" else "no")
+        InfoRow("Automation", if (currentChannel?.automation == true) "yes" else "no")
         InfoRow("Threads", threads.size.toString())
         Spacer(modifier = Modifier.height(8.dp))
         Text("Last reply", style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleSmall, modifier = Modifier.padding(bottom = 4.dp))
diff --git a/docs/06-channels-cron-search.md b/docs/06-channels-cron-search.md
index 76890e5..284cd48 100644
--- a/docs/06-channels-cron-search.md
+++ b/docs/06-channels-cron-search.md
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ gateway identity concepts**.
   target a specific thread.
 - The gateway's `create_handoff_thread` is used where hermes wants to open a
   named thread (e.g. continuable cron).
+- **Threading is only active on the default channel.** The topic switcher,
+  the "new topic" affordance (Ctrl+T), and auto-threading all apply to the
+  default channel only; user channels stay flat (the gateway also ignores
+  `auto_thread` for non-default channels).
 
 ### 6.3.1 Auto-threading (Telegram topic-mode workflow)
 
@@ -83,6 +87,15 @@ lane (nothing to title / session-scoped, not conversation starters).
 - **`channel.rename` / `channel.set_default` / `channel.delete`** manage the
   directory (rename broadcasts `channel.renamed`; delete is soft — marks
   archived, keeps history for search).
+- **Automation channels:** a channel can be marked *automation*
+  (`channel.set_automation {on}`, long-press / right-click menu; the default
+  channel cannot be marked). Automation channels are **read-only for the
+  user**: they exist only to receive gateway-originated output (cron job
+  output, webhook output). The app replaces the composer with a read-only
+  notice, and the gateway rejects `message.send` into them
+  (`error unsupported`). The flag is server-authoritative (synced to all
+  devices via the `channel.renamed` full-entry response) and shown as a gear
+  badge in the channel list.
 - **App affordance for threads:** long-press (touch) / right-click (desktop) a
   topic chip → "Rename" (`channel.rename`) or "Delete" (`channel.delete`).
   Deleting the open thread falls the app back to the channel's flat lane.
diff --git a/docs/protocol/frames.schema.json b/docs/protocol/frames.schema.json
index 10d4133..12c0124 100644
--- a/docs/protocol/frames.schema.json
+++ b/docs/protocol/frames.schema.json
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@
       "notification": { "payload": { "kind": { "type": "string", "enum": ["channel_renamed", "channel_created", "channel_deleted", "cron", "approval", "clarify", "generic"] }, "title": { "type": "string" }, "body": { "type": "string" }, "ts": { "type": "integer" } } },
       "channel.list": { "description": "Full channel directory (response to a channel.list request).", "payload": { "channels": { "type": "array", "items": { "$ref": "#/definitions/channel" } } } },
       "channel.created": { "description": "May carry auto:true for a thread the gateway minted itself for an incoming message (auto-threading); the name is a derived title, upgraded by a follow-up channel.renamed.", "payload": { "$ref": "#/definitions/channel" } },
-      "channel.renamed": { "description": "Also the response to channel.set_default / channel.favorite / channel.icon (carries the full entry incl. is_default, favorite, icon, color).", "payload": { "$ref": "#/definitions/channel" } },
+      "channel.renamed": { "description": "Also the response to channel.set_default / channel.favorite / channel.icon / channel.set_automation (carries the full entry incl. is_default, favorite, icon, color, automation).", "payload": { "$ref": "#/definitions/channel" } },
       "channel.deleted": { "payload": { "chat_id": { "type": "string" } } },
       "search.results": { "payload": { "query": { "type": "string" }, "scope": { "type": "string", "enum": ["all", "chat"] }, "hits": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "properties": { "message_id": {"type":"string"}, "chat_id": {"type":"string"}, "thread_id": {"type":["string","null"]}, "role": {"type":"string"}, "snippet": {"type":"string"}, "ts": {"type":"integer"} } } } } },
       "media.offer": { "description": "Agent-sent media available; app pulls bytes.", "payload": { "$ref": "#/definitions/media_ref" } },
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@
       "error": { "payload": { "code": { "type": "string", "enum": ["auth", "not_found", "rate_limited", "media_too_large", "unsupported", "internal"] }, "message": { "type": "string" } } },
       "pong": { "payload": { "ts": { "type": "integer" } } },
       "sync.done": { "payload": { "cursor": { "type": "integer" } } },
-      "history": { "description": "Paged full message history for a chat/thread (response to a history request). Reconstructed from the outbox log; used to populate the view on first open / after a process death, since sync only replays the outbox delta.", "payload": { "messages": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "properties": { "message_id": {"type":"string"}, "role": {"type":"string","enum":["user","assistant"]}, "text": {"type":"string"}, "reasoning": {"type":"string"}, "model": {"type":"string"}, "tokens": {"type":"integer"}, "ts": {"type":"integer"}, "media": {"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"#/definitions/media_ref"}} } } }, "has_more": { "type": "boolean", "description": "True when older pages exist." }, "oldest_message_id": { "type": "string", "description": "before_message_id for the next (older) page." } } } },
+      "history": { "description": "Paged full message history for a chat/thread (response to a history request). Reconstructed from the outbox log; used to populate the view on first open / after a process death, since sync only replays the outbox delta.", "payload": { "messages": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "object", "properties": { "message_id": {"type":"string"}, "role": {"type":"string","enum":["user","assistant"]}, "text": {"type":"string"}, "reasoning": {"type":"string"}, "model": {"type":"string"}, "tokens": {"type":"integer"}, "ts": {"type":"integer"}, "media": {"type":"array","items":{"$ref":"#/definitions/media_ref"}} } } }, "has_more": { "type": "boolean", "description": "True when older pages exist." }, "oldest_message_id": { "type": "string", "description": "before_message_id for the next (older) page." } } },
       "media.pull.end": { "payload": { "ok": { "type": "boolean" } } },
       "media.upload.ack": { "description": "Response to media.upload.end; ref is cached and usable in message.send media_refs.", "payload": { "ok": { "type": "boolean" }, "media_ref": { "type": "string" } } }
     },
     "app_to_server": {
       "hello": { "description": "First frame; auth + caps.", "payload": { "token": { "type": "string" }, "device_id": { "type": "string" }, "device_name": { "type": "string" }, "caps": { "type": "object", "properties": { "min_protocol": {"type":"integer"}, "media": {"type":"boolean"}, "push": {"type":"string"} } }, "fcm_token": { "type": "string" }, "ntfy_topic": { "type": "string" } } },
-      "message.send": { "payload": { "text": { "type": "string" }, "reply_to": { "type": "string" }, "media_refs": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "auto_thread": { "type": "boolean", "description": "Optional, default false. Ask the gateway to mint a fresh thread for this message (auto-threading). Honored only in a channel's flat lane (thread_id null) with non-empty non-slash text; the gateway broadcasts channel.created {auto:true} and the echo/turn carry the new thread_id." } } },
+      "message.send": { "payload": { "text": { "type": "string" }, "reply_to": { "type": "string" }, "media_refs": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "auto_thread": { "type": "boolean", "description": "Optional, default false. Ask the gateway to mint a fresh thread for this message (auto-threading). Honored only in the DEFAULT channel's flat lane (thread_id null) with non-empty non-slash text — threading is not active on other channels; the gateway broadcasts channel.created {auto:true} and the echo/turn carry the new thread_id." } } },
       "media.upload.start": { "payload": { "media_ref": { "type": "string" }, "kind": { "$ref": "#/definitions/kind" }, "mime": { "type": "string" }, "size": { "type": "integer" }, "filename": { "type": "string" } } },
       "media.upload.end": { "payload": { "media_ref": { "type": "string" }, "sha256": { "type": "string" } } },
       "media.pull": { "payload": { "media_id": { "type": "string" } } },
@@ -74,8 +74,9 @@
       "channel.rename": { "payload": { "name": { "type": "string" } } },
 "channel.set_default": { "payload": {} },
        "channel.favorite": { "description": "Toggle the cosmetic favorite flag (sorts the channel to the top of the list). Answered by a channel.renamed carrying the full entry.", "payload": { "on": { "type": "boolean" } } },
-       "channel.icon": { "description": "Set the channel's cosmetic icon (base64 image) and/or avatar color. Omit / null a field to clear it. Answered by a channel.renamed carrying the full entry.", "payload": { "icon": { "type": ["string", "null"], "description": "base64-encoded image (PNG/JPEG), max ~512 KiB." }, "color": { "type": ["string", "null"], "description": "#RRGGBB avatar color override." } } },
-       "channel.delete": { "payload": {} },
+"channel.icon": { "description": "Set the channel's cosmetic icon (base64 image) and/or avatar color. Omit / null a field to clear it. Answered by a channel.renamed carrying the full entry.", "payload": { "icon": { "type": ["string", "null"], "description": "base64-encoded image (PNG/JPEG), max ~512 KiB." }, "color": { "type": ["string", "null"], "description": "#RRGGBB avatar color override." } } },
+        "channel.set_automation": { "description": "Mark a channel as automation (read-only for the user; it only receives gateway-originated output such as cron jobs and webhooks). The app hides the composer and the gateway rejects message.send into it. The default channel cannot be marked (error not_found). Answered by a channel.renamed carrying the full entry.", "payload": { "on": { "type": "boolean" } } },
+        "channel.delete": { "payload": {} },
       "channel.list": { "description": "Request the full channel directory; answered by the server_to_app channel.list frame.", "payload": {} },
       "search": { "payload": { "query": { "type": "string" }, "scope": { "type": "string", "enum": ["all", "chat"] }, "chat_id": { "type": "string" }, "thread_id": { "type": "string" }, "limit": { "type": "integer", "description": "Optional; server default 20." } } },
       "sync": { "description": "Reconnect catch-up; replays undelivered outbox frames only (not full history).", "payload": { "cursor": { "type": "integer" } } },
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@
   },
   "definitions": {
     "kind": { "type": "string", "enum": ["image", "audio", "video", "document", "voice"] },
-    "channel": { "type": "object", "properties": { "chat_id": {"type":"string"}, "name": {"type":"string"}, "kind": {"type":"string","enum":["default","channel","thread"]}, "parent_chat_id": {"type":["string","null"]}, "is_default": {"type":"boolean"}, "archived": {"type":"boolean"}, "auto": {"type":"boolean","description":"Optional; true on channel.created for a gateway-minted auto-thread."}, "favorite": {"type":"boolean","description":"Optional; cosmetic favorite flag (sorts to the top of the list)."}, "icon": {"type":["string","null"],"description":"Optional; cosmetic icon, a base64-encoded image (PNG/JPEG). Absent/null = auto-generated letter avatar."}, "color": {"type":["string","null"],"description":"Optional; cosmetic avatar color override (#RRGGBB). Absent/null = auto-generated name-hash color."} } },
+    "channel": { "type": "object", "properties": { "chat_id": {"type":"string"}, "name": {"type":"string"}, "kind": {"type":"string","enum":["default","channel","thread"]}, "parent_chat_id": {"type":["string","null"]}, "is_default": {"type":"boolean"}, "archived": {"type":"boolean"}, "auto": {"type":"boolean","description":"Optional; true on channel.created for a gateway-minted auto-thread."}, "favorite": {"type":"boolean","description":"Optional; cosmetic favorite flag (sorts to the top of the list)."}, "icon": {"type":["string","null"],"description":"Optional; cosmetic icon, a base64-encoded image (PNG/JPEG). Absent/null = auto-generated letter avatar."}, "color": {"type":["string","null"],"description":"Optional; cosmetic avatar color override (#RRGGBB). Absent/null = auto-generated name-hash color."}, "automation": {"type":"boolean","description":"Optional; true when the channel is an automation channel (read-only for the user; only receives gateway-originated output such as cron jobs and webhooks). The app hides the composer and the gateway rejects message.send into it. Never set on the default channel."} } },
     "media_ref": { "type": "object", "properties": { "media_id": {"type":"string"}, "kind": { "$ref": "#/definitions/kind" }, "mime": {"type":"string"}, "size": {"type":"integer"}, "filename": {"type":"string"}, "message_id": {"type":"string","description":"Optional; set on media.offer to associate the offer with the assistant message it belongs to."} } }
   },
   "x-planned-frames": [
diff --git a/gateway-plugin/adapter.py b/gateway-plugin/adapter.py
index 22b259e..23a219b 100644
--- a/gateway-plugin/adapter.py
+++ b/gateway-plugin/adapter.py
@@ -1702,6 +1702,23 @@ class AndroidAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
             chat_id = self.home_channel
         chat_id = chat_id.strip()
 
+        # Automation channels are read-only for the user: they only receive
+        # gateway-originated output (cron jobs, webhooks). Reject direct sends
+        # (the app hides the composer for them, this is the server-side
+        # enforcement).
+        target = self._channels.get(chat_id)
+        if target is not None and target.get("automation"):
+            await self._ws_server.send_to(
+                device_id,
+                protocol.error(
+                    protocol.ERR_UNSUPPORTED,
+                    f"{target.get('name') or chat_id} is an automation channel "
+                    "(read-only: cron/webhook output only)",
+                    id=frame.id,
+                ),
+            )
+            return
+
         thread_id = frame.thread_id or payload.get("thread_id")
         if not isinstance(thread_id, str) or not thread_id.strip():
             thread_id = None
@@ -1717,14 +1734,18 @@ class AndroidAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         # LLM upgrades the name in the background. The user echo, the agent
         # turn, and all streaming frames then carry the new thread_id.
         # Skipped for slash commands (session-scoped, not conversation
-        # starters) and replies (they continue where the user is).
+        # starters) and replies (they continue where the user is). Threading
+        # is only active on the default channel; other channels stay flat.
         auto_thread = payload.get("auto_thread") is True
+        default_entry = self._channels.default()
         if (
             auto_thread
             and thread_id is None
             and text.strip()
             and not text.lstrip().startswith("/")
             and reply_to is None
+            and default_entry is not None
+            and chat_id == default_entry["chat_id"]
         ):
             entry = self._channels.create(
                 name=_derive_thread_name(text),
@@ -2160,6 +2181,34 @@ class AndroidAdapter(BasePlatformAdapter):
         resp.id = frame.id
         await self._ws_server.broadcast(resp)
 
+    async def on_channel_set_automation(self, frame: protocol.Frame, device_id: str) -> None:
+        chat_id = frame.chat_id or frame.payload.get("chat_id")
+        if not isinstance(chat_id, str) or not chat_id.strip():
+            await self._ws_server.send_to(
+                device_id,
+                protocol.error(
+                    protocol.ERR_NOT_FOUND, "channel.set_automation requires chat_id", id=frame.id
+                ),
+            )
+            return
+        on = bool(frame.payload.get("on"))
+        entry = self._channels.set_automation(chat_id, on)
+        if entry is None:
+            await self._ws_server.send_to(
+                device_id,
+                protocol.error(
+                    protocol.ERR_NOT_FOUND,
+                    f"cannot set automation on {chat_id} (unknown or default)",
+                    id=frame.id,
+                ),
+            )
+            return
+        # Reuse the renamed event shape: it carries the full entry (incl. the
+        # new automation flag) so every device reconciles the change.
+        resp = protocol.channel_renamed(entry)
+        resp.id = frame.id
+        await self._ws_server.broadcast(resp)
+
     async def on_channel_delete(self, frame: protocol.Frame, device_id: str) -> None:
         chat_id = frame.chat_id or frame.payload.get("chat_id")
         if not isinstance(chat_id, str) or not chat_id.strip():
diff --git a/gateway-plugin/channels.py b/gateway-plugin/channels.py
index 452a0a1..9a2a776 100644
--- a/gateway-plugin/channels.py
+++ b/gateway-plugin/channels.py
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
                     created        REAL NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
                     favorite       INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
                     icon           TEXT,
-                    color          TEXT
+                    color          TEXT,
+                    automation     INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0
                 )
                 """
             )
@@ -83,6 +84,10 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
                 self._conn.execute("ALTER TABLE channels ADD COLUMN icon TEXT")
             if "color" not in existing:
                 self._conn.execute("ALTER TABLE channels ADD COLUMN color TEXT")
+            if "automation" not in existing:
+                self._conn.execute(
+                    "ALTER TABLE channels ADD COLUMN automation INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0"
+                )
             self._conn.execute(
                 """
                 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS counters (
@@ -138,9 +143,12 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
             else:
                 # Refresh the name only if it was never renamed by the user
                 # (heuristic: still equals the previous default name is not
-                # trackable, so leave user-renamed names alone).
+                # trackable, so leave user-renamed names alone). The default
+                # channel is the user's chat surface, so it is never an
+                # automation channel.
                 self._conn.execute(
-                    "UPDATE channels SET kind = ?, is_default = 1 WHERE chat_id = ?",
+                    "UPDATE channels SET kind = ?, is_default = 1, automation = 0 "
+                    "WHERE chat_id = ?",
                     (KIND_DEFAULT, chat_id),
                 )
             # Exactly one default: clear any other default flag.
@@ -206,7 +214,11 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
         return self.get(chat_id)
 
     def set_default(self, chat_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
-        """Mark *chat_id* as the default channel (clears the previous one)."""
+        """Mark *chat_id* as the default channel (clears the previous one).
+
+        The default channel is the user's chat surface, so the automation
+        flag is cleared on it (a read-only home channel would be unusable).
+        """
         with self._lock:
             row = self._conn.execute(
                 "SELECT 1 FROM channels WHERE chat_id = ? AND archived = 0",
@@ -216,7 +228,9 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
                 return None
             self._conn.execute("UPDATE channels SET is_default = 0")
             self._conn.execute(
-                "UPDATE channels SET is_default = 1 WHERE chat_id = ?", (chat_id,)
+                "UPDATE channels SET is_default = 1, automation = 0 "
+                "WHERE chat_id = ?",
+                (chat_id,),
             )
             self._conn.commit()
         return self.get(chat_id)
@@ -250,6 +264,29 @@ class ChannelDirectory:
                 return None
         return self.get(chat_id)
 
+    def set_automation(self, chat_id: str, on: bool) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Mark *chat_id* as an automation channel (or clear the flag).
+
+        Automation channels are read-only for the user: they only receive
+        gateway-originated output (cron jobs, webhooks). The app hides the
+        composer and the gateway rejects ``message.send`` into them. The
+        default channel cannot be marked automation (it is the user's chat
+        surface), so this returns ``None`` for it, like ``delete``.
+        """
+        with self._lock:
+            row = self._conn.execute(
+                "SELECT is_default FROM channels WHERE chat_id = ? AND archived = 0",
+                (chat_id,),
+            ).fetchone()
+            if row is None or row["is_default"]:
+                return None
+            self._conn.execute(
+                "UPDATE channels SET automation = ? WHERE chat_id = ?",
+                (1 if on else 0, chat_id),
+            )
+            self._conn.commit()
+        return self.get(chat_id)
+
     def delete(self, chat_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """Soft-delete (archive) a channel. History stays for search.
 
@@ -365,6 +402,7 @@ def _row_to_entry(row: sqlite3.Row) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         "favorite": bool(row["favorite"]),
         "icon": row["icon"],
         "color": row["color"],
+        "automation": bool(row["automation"]),
     }
 
 
diff --git a/gateway-plugin/protocol.py b/gateway-plugin/protocol.py
index b9507c9..8d94242 100644
--- a/gateway-plugin/protocol.py
+++ b/gateway-plugin/protocol.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ TYPE_CHANNEL_RENAME = "channel.rename"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_DEFAULT = "channel.set_default"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_FAVORITE = "channel.favorite"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_ICON = "channel.icon"
+TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_AUTOMATION = "channel.set_automation"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_DELETE = "channel.delete"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_CREATED = "channel.created"
 TYPE_CHANNEL_RENAMED = "channel.renamed"
@@ -442,6 +443,8 @@ def _channel_payload(entry: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         payload["icon"] = entry["icon"]
     if entry.get("color"):
         payload["color"] = entry["color"]
+    if entry.get("automation"):
+        payload["automation"] = True
     return payload
 
 
diff --git a/gateway-plugin/ws_server.py b/gateway-plugin/ws_server.py
index 826d90a..f67fbe5 100644
--- a/gateway-plugin/ws_server.py
+++ b/gateway-plugin/ws_server.py
@@ -374,6 +374,8 @@ class WsServer:
             await self._adapter.on_channel_favorite(frame, device_id)
         elif frame.type == protocol.TYPE_CHANNEL_ICON:
             await self._adapter.on_channel_icon(frame, device_id)
+        elif frame.type == protocol.TYPE_CHANNEL_SET_AUTOMATION:
+            await self._adapter.on_channel_set_automation(frame, device_id)
         elif frame.type == protocol.TYPE_CHANNEL_DELETE:
             await self._adapter.on_channel_delete(frame, device_id)
         elif frame.type == protocol.TYPE_CHANNEL_LIST: