diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6956a1287fb..185ec841f85 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 ### Fixes
 
 - Infer/media: report missing image-understanding and audio-transcription provider configuration for `image describe`, `image describe-many`, and `audio transcribe` instead of blaming the input path when no provider is available. Fixes #73569 and supersedes #73593, #74288, and #74495. Thanks @bittoby, @tmimmanuel, @Linux2010, and @vyctorbrzezowski.
+- Docs/health: clarify that session listing surfaces stored conversation rows rather than Discord/channel socket liveness, and point connectivity checks at channel status and health probes. Fixes #70420. Thanks @ashersoutherncities-art and @martingarramon.
 - Active Memory: use the configured recall timeout as the blocking prompt-build hook budget by default and move cold-start setup grace behind explicit `setupGraceTimeoutMs` config, so the plugin no longer silently extends 15000 ms configs to 45000 ms on the main lane. Fixes #75843. Thanks @vishutdhar.
 - Plugins/web-provider: reuse the active gateway plugin registry for runtime web provider resolution after deriving the same candidate plugin ids as the loader path, avoiding a redundant `loadOpenClawPlugins` call on every request while preserving origin and scope filters. Fixes #75513. Thanks @jochen.
 - Crestodian/CLI: exit non-zero when interactive Crestodian is invoked without a TTY, so scripts and CI no longer treat the setup error as success. Fixes #73646 and supersedes #73928 and #74059. Thanks @bittoby, @luyao618, and @Linux2010.
diff --git a/docs/cli/channels.md b/docs/cli/channels.md
index 12edbb14336..92c2d4b472d 100644
--- a/docs/cli/channels.md
+++ b/docs/cli/channels.md
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ state plus probe results such as `works`, `probe failed`, `audit ok`, or `audit
 If the gateway is unreachable, `channels status` falls back to config-only summaries
 instead of live probe output.
 
+Do not use `openclaw sessions`, Gateway `sessions.list`, or the agent
+`sessions_list` tool as a channel socket-health signal. Those surfaces report
+stored conversation rows, not provider runtime state. After a Discord provider
+restart, a connected but quiet account may be healthy while no Discord session
+row appears until the next inbound or outbound conversation event.
+
 ## Add / remove accounts
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/docs/cli/sessions.md b/docs/cli/sessions.md
index e6ede516ae1..8f2219dfbad 100644
--- a/docs/cli/sessions.md
+++ b/docs/cli/sessions.md
@@ -9,6 +9,13 @@ title: "Sessions"
 
 List stored conversation sessions.
 
+Session lists are not channel/provider liveness checks. They show persisted
+conversation rows from session stores. A quiet Discord, Slack, Telegram, or
+other channel can reconnect successfully without creating a new session row
+until a message is processed. Use `openclaw channels status --probe`,
+`openclaw status --deep`, or `openclaw health --verbose` when you need live
+channel connectivity.
+
 ```bash
 openclaw sessions
 openclaw sessions --agent work
diff --git a/docs/gateway/health.md b/docs/gateway/health.md
index 9bf1681652b..49f92506a39 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/health.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/health.md
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ Short guide to verify channel connectivity without guessing.
 - Send `/status` as a standalone message in WhatsApp/WebChat to get a status reply without invoking the agent.
 - Logs: tail `/tmp/openclaw/openclaw-*.log` and filter for `web-heartbeat`, `web-reconnect`, `web-auto-reply`, `web-inbound`.
 
+For Discord and other chat providers, session rows are not socket liveness.
+`openclaw sessions`, Gateway `sessions.list`, and the agent `sessions_list` tool
+read stored conversation state. A provider can reconnect and show healthy channel
+status before any new session row is materialized. Use the channel status and
+health commands above for live connectivity checks.
+
 ## Deep diagnostics
 
 - Creds on disk: `ls -l ~/.openclaw/credentials/whatsapp/<accountId>/creds.json` (mtime should be recent).