diff --git a/scripts/install.sh b/scripts/install.sh
index 99d901d76a06..12e7651a5692 100755
--- a/scripts/install.sh
+++ b/scripts/install.sh
@@ -140,6 +140,14 @@ is_non_interactive_shell() {
     return 1
 }
 
+# Returns true when stdin should be isolated from the script stream.
+# Checks stdin directly (not stdout) and respects NO_PROMPT so that
+# stdout redirection (e.g. install.sh > log.txt) does not suppress
+# interactive prompts.
+needs_stdin_isolation() {
+    [[ ! -t 0 ]] || [[ "${NO_PROMPT:-0}" == "1" ]]
+}
+
 has_controlling_tty() {
     if [[ ! -r /dev/tty || ! -w /dev/tty ]]; then
         return 1
@@ -150,6 +158,39 @@ has_controlling_tty() {
     return 0
 }
 
+has_visible_prompt_output() {
+    [[ -t 1 ]]
+}
+
+resolve_subprocess_stdin_path() {
+    local prompt_output_visible="${1:-0}"
+    if [[ "${NO_PROMPT:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+        echo "/dev/null"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    if ! needs_stdin_isolation; then
+        return 1
+    fi
+    if has_controlling_tty && [[ "$prompt_output_visible" == "1" ]]; then
+        echo "/dev/tty"
+    else
+        echo "/dev/null"
+    fi
+}
+
+run_with_safe_stdin() {
+    local stdin_path=""
+    local prompt_output_visible=0
+    if has_visible_prompt_output; then
+        prompt_output_visible=1
+    fi
+    if stdin_path="$(resolve_subprocess_stdin_path "$prompt_output_visible")"; then
+        "$@" < "$stdin_path"
+    else
+        "$@"
+    fi
+}
+
 gum_is_tty() {
     if [[ -n "${NO_COLOR:-}" ]]; then
         return 1
@@ -483,13 +524,23 @@ run_with_spinner() {
         local gum_err gum_out
         mktempfile gum_err
         mktempfile gum_out
-        if "$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err"; then
+        local gum_status=0
+        if needs_stdin_isolation; then
+            "$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" < /dev/null >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?
+        else
+            "$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?
+        fi
+        if [[ "$gum_status" -eq 0 ]]; then
             if is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_out" || is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_err"; then
                 GUM=""
                 GUM_STATUS="skipped"
                 GUM_REASON="gum raw mode unavailable"
                 ui_warn "Spinner unavailable in this terminal; continuing without spinner"
-                "$@"
+                if needs_stdin_isolation; then
+                    "$@" < /dev/null
+                else
+                    "$@"
+                fi
                 return $?
             fi
             if [[ -s "$gum_out" ]]; then
@@ -497,13 +548,16 @@ run_with_spinner() {
             fi
             return 0
         fi
-        local gum_status=$?
         if is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_err" || is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_out"; then
             GUM=""
             GUM_STATUS="skipped"
             GUM_REASON="gum raw mode unavailable"
             ui_warn "Spinner unavailable in this terminal; continuing without spinner"
-            "$@"
+            if needs_stdin_isolation; then
+                "$@" < /dev/null
+            else
+                "$@"
+            fi
             return $?
         fi
         if [[ -s "$gum_err" ]]; then
@@ -512,7 +566,11 @@ run_with_spinner() {
         return "$gum_status"
     fi
 
-    "$@"
+    if needs_stdin_isolation; then
+        "$@" < /dev/null
+    else
+        "$@"
+    fi
 }
 
 run_quiet_step() {
@@ -544,7 +602,11 @@ run_quiet_step() {
         # Keep users informed even when gum spinner cannot run (for example shell functions).
         ui_info "${title}"
         showed_progress=true
-        "$@" >"$log" 2>&1 || cmd_exit=$?
+        if needs_stdin_isolation; then
+            "$@" < /dev/null >"$log" 2>&1 || cmd_exit=$?
+        else
+            "$@" >"$log" 2>&1 || cmd_exit=$?
+        fi
         if (( cmd_exit == 0 )); then
             return 0
         fi
@@ -915,7 +977,7 @@ run_npm_global_install() {
     LAST_NPM_INSTALL_CMD="${cmd_display% }"
 
     if [[ "$VERBOSE" == "1" ]]; then
-        "${cmd[@]}" 2>&1 | tee "$log"
+        "${cmd[@]}" < /dev/null 2>&1 | tee "$log"
         return $?
     fi
 
@@ -929,7 +991,7 @@ run_npm_global_install() {
     fi
 
     ui_info "Installing OpenClaw package"
-    "${cmd[@]}" >"$log" 2>&1
+    "${cmd[@]}" < /dev/null >"$log" 2>&1
 }
 
 extract_npm_debug_log_path() {
@@ -1997,7 +2059,7 @@ fix_npm_permissions() {
     ui_warn "The installer will switch npm's user prefix to ${HOME}/.npm-global; npm normally writes that setting to ~/.npmrc."
     ui_info "Configuring npm for user-local installs"
     mkdir -p "$HOME/.npm-global"
-    npm config set prefix "$HOME/.npm-global"
+    npm config set prefix "$HOME/.npm-global" < /dev/null
     ui_warn "Avoid sudo npm i -g for future OpenClaw updates; use npm i -g openclaw@latest so npm keeps using this user prefix instead of a different global prefix."
 
     persist_shell_path_prepend "$HOME/.npm-global/bin" "\$HOME/.npm-global/bin" || true
@@ -2913,7 +2975,7 @@ maybe_open_dashboard() {
     if ! "$claw" dashboard --help >/dev/null 2>&1; then
         return 0
     fi
-    "$claw" dashboard || true
+    run_with_safe_stdin "$claw" dashboard || true
 }
 
 has_openclaw_config() {
@@ -3364,7 +3426,7 @@ main() {
             if (( doctor_ok )); then
                 should_open_dashboard=true
                 ui_info "Updating plugins"
-                OPENCLAW_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS=1 "$claw" plugins update --all || true
+                OPENCLAW_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS=1 run_with_safe_stdin "$claw" plugins update --all || true
             else
                 ui_warn "Doctor failed; skipping plugin updates"
             fi
@@ -3396,7 +3458,7 @@ main() {
                 ui_info "Gateway daemon detected; would restart (${user_claw} daemon restart)"
             else
                 ui_info "Gateway daemon detected; restarting"
-                if OPENCLAW_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS=1 "$claw" daemon restart >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+                if OPENCLAW_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS=1 "$claw" daemon restart < /dev/null >/dev/null 2>&1; then
                     ui_success "Gateway restarted"
                 else
                     ui_warn "Gateway restart failed; try: ${user_claw} daemon restart"
diff --git a/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts b/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
index e463b74448eb..356ad77a4bc3 100644
--- a/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/install-sh.test.ts
@@ -1972,7 +1972,10 @@ describe("install.sh macOS Homebrew Node behavior", () => {
   it("falls back when gum reports raw-mode ioctl failures", () => {
     expect(script).toContain("setrawmode|inappropriate ioctl");
     expect(script).toContain(
-      'if "$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err"; then',
+      '"$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" < /dev/null >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?',
+    );
+    expect(script).toContain(
+      '"$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?',
     );
     expect(script).toContain(
       'if is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_out" || is_gum_raw_mode_failure "$gum_err"; then',
@@ -1980,7 +1983,9 @@ describe("install.sh macOS Homebrew Node behavior", () => {
     expect(script).toContain(
       'ui_warn "Spinner unavailable in this terminal; continuing without spinner"',
     );
-    expect(script).toContain('"$@"\n                return $?');
+    expect(script).toContain(
+      'if needs_stdin_isolation; then\n                    "$@" < /dev/null\n                else\n                    "$@"\n                fi\n                return $?',
+    );
   });
 
   it("reruns spinner-wrapped commands when gum reports ioctl failure", () => {
@@ -2016,6 +2021,65 @@ describe("install.sh macOS Homebrew Node behavior", () => {
       rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
   });
+
+  it("gum spin preserves terminal stdin for direct interactive installs", () => {
+    // When needs_stdin_isolation returns false (direct interactive run),
+    // gum spin should NOT redirect stdin from /dev/null so that wrapped
+    // commands like Homebrew can still prompt the user via stdin.
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "openclaw-install-sh-gum-stdin-"));
+    try {
+      const gumPath = join(dir, "gum");
+      const commandPath = join(dir, "command");
+      const stdinLog = join(dir, "stdin-source");
+      // Gum stub: skip args up to and including "--", then run the rest
+      writeFileSync(
+        gumPath,
+        '#!/usr/bin/env bash\nwhile [[ "$#" -gt 0 && "$1" != "--" ]]; do shift; done\nshift\n"$@"\n',
+        { mode: 0o755 },
+      );
+      // Command: detects whether stdin is literally /dev/null by comparing
+      // device:inode of fd 0 against /dev/null (reliable across macOS/Linux)
+      writeFileSync(
+        commandPath,
+        `#!/usr/bin/env bash
+stdin_dev=$(stat -f '%d:%i' /dev/fd/0 2>/dev/null || stat -c '%d:%i' /dev/fd/0 2>/dev/null)
+null_dev=$(stat -f '%d:%i' /dev/null 2>/dev/null || stat -c '%d:%i' /dev/null 2>/dev/null)
+if [ "$stdin_dev" = "$null_dev" ]; then echo "devnull" > "${stdinLog}"; else echo "other" > "${stdinLog}"; fi
+exit 0
+`,
+        { mode: 0o755 },
+      );
+
+      const result = runInstallShell(`
+        set -euo pipefail
+        source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+        # Override needs_stdin_isolation to return false (direct interactive)
+        needs_stdin_isolation() { return 1; }
+        gum_is_tty() { return 0; }
+        GUM="${gumPath}"
+        run_with_spinner "Installing node" "${commandPath}"
+      `);
+
+      // The gum spin command should NOT have redirected stdin from /dev/null
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+      // Assert the child command's stdin was NOT /dev/null
+      const observed = readFileSync(stdinLog, "utf8").trim();
+      expect(observed).toBe("other");
+      expect(script).toContain("needs_stdin_isolation; then");
+      expect(script).toContain(
+        '"$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?',
+      );
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("gum spin redirects stdin from /dev/null for piped installs", () => {
+    expect(script).toContain("needs_stdin_isolation; then");
+    expect(script).toContain(
+      '"$GUM" spin --spinner dot --title "$title" -- "$@" < /dev/null >"$gum_out" 2>"$gum_err" || gum_status=$?',
+    );
+  });
 });
 
 describe("install.sh duplicate OpenClaw install detection", () => {
@@ -2060,11 +2124,214 @@ describe("install.sh duplicate OpenClaw install detection", () => {
     expect(result.status).toBe(0);
     expect(result.stdout).not.toContain("Multiple OpenClaw global installs detected");
   });
+
+  it("needs_stdin_isolation returns true when stdin is piped", () => {
+    const result = spawnSync(
+      "bash",
+      [
+        "-c",
+        `source "${SCRIPT_PATH}" && needs_stdin_isolation && echo "ISOLATED" || echo "INTERACTIVE"`,
+      ],
+      {
+        encoding: "utf8",
+        stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+        env: {
+          ...process.env,
+          HOME: tmpdir(),
+          OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SH_NO_RUN: "1",
+          BASH_ENV: "",
+          ENV: "",
+        },
+        input: "",
+      },
+    );
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("ISOLATED");
+  });
+
+  it("needs_stdin_isolation returns true when NO_PROMPT is set", () => {
+    const result = runInstallShell(`
+      set -euo pipefail
+      source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+      NO_PROMPT=1
+      needs_stdin_isolation && echo "ISOLATED" || echo "INTERACTIVE"
+    `);
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("ISOLATED");
+  });
+
+  it("routes piped interactive subprocesses through the controlling TTY", () => {
+    const result = runInstallShell(`
+      set -euo pipefail
+      source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+      NO_PROMPT=0
+      needs_stdin_isolation() { return 0; }
+      has_controlling_tty() { return 0; }
+      resolve_subprocess_stdin_path 1
+    `);
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("/dev/tty");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps piped subprocesses nonblocking when prompt output is redirected", () => {
+    const result = runInstallShell(`
+      set -euo pipefail
+      source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+      NO_PROMPT=0
+      needs_stdin_isolation() { return 0; }
+      has_controlling_tty() { return 0; }
+      resolve_subprocess_stdin_path 0
+    `);
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("/dev/null");
+  });
+
+  it("captures visible prompt output before resolving subprocess stdin", () => {
+    const result = runInstallShell(`
+      set -euo pipefail
+      source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+      marker="$(mktemp)"
+      trap 'rm -f "$marker"' EXIT
+      has_visible_prompt_output() { return 0; }
+      resolve_subprocess_stdin_path() {
+        echo "visible=$1" > "$marker"
+        return 1
+      }
+      run_with_safe_stdin true
+      cat "$marker"
+    `);
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("visible=1");
+  });
+
+  it("routes non-promptable subprocesses through /dev/null", () => {
+    const result = runInstallShell(`
+      set -euo pipefail
+      source "${SCRIPT_PATH}"
+      NO_PROMPT=1
+      has_controlling_tty() { return 0; }
+      resolve_subprocess_stdin_path
+    `);
+    expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+    expect(result.stdout.trim()).toBe("/dev/null");
+  });
+
+  it("run_quiet_step redirects stdin to /dev/null in piped context", () => {
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "openclaw-stdin-test-"));
+    const marker = join(dir, "stdin-state");
+    try {
+      const result = spawnSync(
+        "bash",
+        [
+          "-c",
+          `source "${SCRIPT_PATH}" && GUM="" && run_quiet_step "test-step" bash -c 'if read -t 1 line 2>/dev/null && [ -n "$line" ]; then echo "LEAKED:$line" > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; else echo ISOLATED > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; fi'`,
+        ],
+        {
+          encoding: "utf8",
+          stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+          env: {
+            ...process.env,
+            HOME: tmpdir(),
+            NO_PROMPT: "1",
+            OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SH_NO_RUN: "1",
+            BASH_ENV: "",
+            ENV: "",
+          },
+          input: "SENTINEL_DATA_SHOULD_NOT_LEAK\n",
+        },
+      );
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+      const stdinState = readFileSync(marker, "utf8").trim();
+      expect(stdinState).toBe("ISOLATED");
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(dir, { force: true, recursive: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("pipe data leaks to child when stdin is not isolated (counterproof)", () => {
+    // This test proves the fix is necessary: without /dev/null redirect,
+    // pipe data from the installer invocation reaches the child process.
+    // If this test ever fails, the isolation in run_quiet_step is no longer
+    // the only barrier protecting child processes from pipe consumption.
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "openclaw-stdin-leak-"));
+    const marker = join(dir, "stdin-state");
+    try {
+      const result = spawnSync(
+        "bash",
+        [
+          "-c",
+          // Bypass run_quiet_step: call the child directly with inherited stdin
+          `source "${SCRIPT_PATH}" && bash -c 'output=$(cat); if [ -n "$output" ]; then echo "LEAKED" > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; else echo "EMPTY" > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; fi'`,
+        ],
+        {
+          encoding: "utf8",
+          stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+          env: {
+            ...process.env,
+            HOME: tmpdir(),
+            OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SH_NO_RUN: "1",
+            BASH_ENV: "",
+            ENV: "",
+          },
+          input: "SENTINEL_DATA_SHOULD_LEAK\n",
+        },
+      );
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+      const stdinState = readFileSync(marker, "utf8").trim();
+      // Without /dev/null redirect, cat reads the sentinel from the pipe.
+      expect(stdinState).toBe("LEAKED");
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(dir, { force: true, recursive: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("run_quiet_step blocks cat from reading pipe data", () => {
+    // Stronger version of the isolation test: uses cat to consume all of
+    // stdin and verifies it reads nothing (empty output from /dev/null).
+    const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "openclaw-stdin-cat-"));
+    const marker = join(dir, "stdin-state");
+    try {
+      const result = spawnSync(
+        "bash",
+        [
+          "-c",
+          `source "${SCRIPT_PATH}" && GUM="" && run_quiet_step "test-step" bash -c 'output=$(cat); if [ -n "$output" ]; then echo "LEAKED" > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; else echo "ISOLATED" > ${JSON.stringify(marker)}; fi'`,
+        ],
+        {
+          encoding: "utf8",
+          stdio: ["pipe", "pipe", "pipe"],
+          env: {
+            ...process.env,
+            HOME: tmpdir(),
+            NO_PROMPT: "1",
+            OPENCLAW_INSTALL_SH_NO_RUN: "1",
+            BASH_ENV: "",
+            ENV: "",
+          },
+          input: "SENTINEL_DATA_SHOULD_NOT_LEAK\n",
+        },
+      );
+      expect(result.status).toBe(0);
+      const stdinState = readFileSync(marker, "utf8").trim();
+      expect(stdinState).toBe("ISOLATED");
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(dir, { force: true, recursive: true });
+    }
+  });
 });
 
 describe("install.sh doctor cancellation and dashboard guard", () => {
   const script = readFileSync(SCRIPT_PATH, "utf8");
 
+  it("preserves dashboard stdin for direct interactive installs", () => {
+    expect(script).toContain('run_with_safe_stdin "$claw" dashboard || true');
+  });
+
+  it("preserves plugin update stdin for direct interactive upgrades", () => {
+    expect(script).toContain(
+      'OPENCLAW_UPDATE_IN_PROGRESS=1 run_with_safe_stdin "$claw" plugins update --all || true',
+    );
+  });
+
   it("guards every run_doctor caller against failure", () => {
     // A failed or cancelled doctor must not launch the dashboard.
     expect(script).toContain("if run_doctor; then");