diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1017e5f5aa0..f797f4a9b0a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Control UI/Debug: replace the Manual RPC free-text method field with a sorted dropdown sourced from gateway-advertised methods, and stack the form vertically for narrower layouts. (#14967) thanks @rixau.
 - Auth/profile resolution: log debug details when auto-discovered auth profiles fail during provider API-key resolution, so `--debug` output surfaces the real refresh/keychain/credential-store failure instead of only the generic missing-key message. (#41271) thanks @he-yufeng.
 - ACP/cancel scoping: scope `chat.abort` and shared-session ACP event routing by `runId` so one session cannot cancel or consume another session's run when they share the same gateway session key. (#41331) Thanks @pejmanjohn.
+- SecretRef/models: harden custom/provider secret persistence and reuse across models.json snapshots, merge behavior, runtime headers, and secret audits. (#42554) Thanks @joshavant.
 
 ## 2026.3.7
 
diff --git a/extensions/bluebubbles/src/onboarding.ts b/extensions/bluebubbles/src/onboarding.ts
index 0d0136ebb94..eb66afdfe21 100644
--- a/extensions/bluebubbles/src/onboarding.ts
+++ b/extensions/bluebubbles/src/onboarding.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import type {
   WizardPrompter,
 } from "openclaw/plugin-sdk/bluebubbles";
 import {
+  DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID,
   formatDocsLink,
   mergeAllowFromEntries,
   normalizeAccountId,
diff --git a/extensions/googlechat/src/onboarding.ts b/extensions/googlechat/src/onboarding.ts
index a9ed522619f..f7708dd30b9 100644
--- a/extensions/googlechat/src/onboarding.ts
+++ b/extensions/googlechat/src/onboarding.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { OpenClawConfig, DmPolicy } from "openclaw/plugin-sdk/googlechat";
 import {
+  DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID,
   applySetupAccountConfigPatch,
   addWildcardAllowFrom,
   formatDocsLink,
diff --git a/extensions/nextcloud-talk/src/onboarding.ts b/extensions/nextcloud-talk/src/onboarding.ts
index b3967057fe1..7b1a8b11d28 100644
--- a/extensions/nextcloud-talk/src/onboarding.ts
+++ b/extensions/nextcloud-talk/src/onboarding.ts
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ export const nextcloudTalkOnboardingAdapter: ChannelOnboardingAdapter = {
           botSecret: value,
         }),
     });
-    next = secretStep.cfg;
+    next = secretStep.cfg as CoreConfig;
 
     if (secretStep.action === "keep" && baseUrl !== resolvedAccount.baseUrl) {
       next = setNextcloudTalkAccountConfig(next, accountId, {
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ export const nextcloudTalkOnboardingAdapter: ChannelOnboardingAdapter = {
       next =
         apiPasswordStep.action === "keep"
           ? setNextcloudTalkAccountConfig(next, accountId, { apiUser })
-          : apiPasswordStep.cfg;
+          : (apiPasswordStep.cfg as CoreConfig);
     }
 
     if (forceAllowFrom) {
diff --git a/extensions/zalouser/src/onboarding.ts b/extensions/zalouser/src/onboarding.ts
index 13ded42c74d..d5b828b6711 100644
--- a/extensions/zalouser/src/onboarding.ts
+++ b/extensions/zalouser/src/onboarding.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type {
   WizardPrompter,
 } from "openclaw/plugin-sdk/zalouser";
 import {
+  DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID,
   formatResolvedUnresolvedNote,
   mergeAllowFromEntries,
   normalizeAccountId,
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth-label.test.ts b/src/agents/model-auth-label.test.ts
index a46eebbbc34..41afd4bb426 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth-label.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth-label.test.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ vi.mock("./auth-profiles.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock("./model-auth.js", () => ({
-  getCustomProviderApiKey: () => undefined,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey: () => null,
   resolveEnvApiKey: () => null,
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts b/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
index ca564ab4dec..f28013c9825 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import {
   resolveAuthProfileDisplayLabel,
   resolveAuthProfileOrder,
 } from "./auth-profiles.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "./model-auth.js";
+import { resolveEnvApiKey, resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey } from "./model-auth.js";
 import { normalizeProviderId } from "./model-selection.js";
 
 export function resolveModelAuthLabel(params: {
@@ -59,7 +59,10 @@ export function resolveModelAuthLabel(params: {
     return `api-key (${envKey.source})`;
   }
 
-  const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(params.cfg, providerKey);
+  const customKey = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({
+    cfg: params.cfg,
+    provider: providerKey,
+  });
   if (customKey) {
     return `api-key (models.json)`;
   }
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth-markers.test.ts b/src/agents/model-auth-markers.test.ts
index e2225588df7..b90f1fd9ffa 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth-markers.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth-markers.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { listKnownProviderEnvApiKeyNames } from "./model-auth-env-vars.js";
-import { isNonSecretApiKeyMarker, NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER } from "./model-auth-markers.js";
+import {
+  isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker,
+  isNonSecretApiKeyMarker,
+  NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER,
+} from "./model-auth-markers.js";
 
 describe("model auth markers", () => {
   it("recognizes explicit non-secret markers", () => {
@@ -23,4 +27,9 @@ describe("model auth markers", () => {
   it("can exclude env marker-name interpretation for display-only paths", () => {
     expect(isNonSecretApiKeyMarker("OPENAI_API_KEY", { includeEnvVarName: false })).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("excludes aws-sdk env markers from known api key env marker helper", () => {
+    expect(isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker("OPENAI_API_KEY")).toBe(true);
+    expect(isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker("AWS_PROFILE")).toBe(false);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth-markers.ts b/src/agents/model-auth-markers.ts
index 0b3b4960eb8..e888f06d0c5 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth-markers.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth-markers.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ export function isAwsSdkAuthMarker(value: string): boolean {
   return AWS_SDK_ENV_MARKERS.has(value.trim());
 }
 
+export function isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker(value: string): boolean {
+  const trimmed = value.trim();
+  return KNOWN_ENV_API_KEY_MARKERS.has(trimmed) && !isAwsSdkAuthMarker(trimmed);
+}
+
 export function resolveNonEnvSecretRefApiKeyMarker(_source: SecretRefSource): string {
   return NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER;
 }
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth.test.ts b/src/agents/model-auth.test.ts
index 943070960d3..2deaeb7dbf6 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import type { AuthProfileStore } from "./auth-profiles.js";
-import { requireApiKey, resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName, resolveModelAuthMode } from "./model-auth.js";
+import { NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER } from "./model-auth-markers.js";
+import {
+  hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
+  requireApiKey,
+  resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName,
+  resolveModelAuthMode,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
+} from "./model-auth.js";
 
 describe("resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName", () => {
   it("prefers bearer token over access keys and profile", () => {
@@ -117,3 +124,102 @@ describe("requireApiKey", () => {
     ).toThrow('No API key resolved for provider "openai"');
   });
 });
+
+describe("resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey", () => {
+  it("returns literal custom provider keys", () => {
+    const resolved = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({
+      cfg: {
+        models: {
+          providers: {
+            custom: {
+              baseUrl: "https://example.com/v1",
+              apiKey: "sk-custom-runtime", // pragma: allowlist secret
+              models: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      provider: "custom",
+    });
+    expect(resolved).toEqual({
+      apiKey: "sk-custom-runtime",
+      source: "models.json",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("does not treat non-env markers as usable credentials", () => {
+    const resolved = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({
+      cfg: {
+        models: {
+          providers: {
+            custom: {
+              baseUrl: "https://example.com/v1",
+              apiKey: NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER,
+              models: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      },
+      provider: "custom",
+    });
+    expect(resolved).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it("resolves known env marker names from process env for custom providers", () => {
+    const previous = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+    process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-from-env"; // pragma: allowlist secret
+    try {
+      const resolved = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({
+        cfg: {
+          models: {
+            providers: {
+              custom: {
+                baseUrl: "https://example.com/v1",
+                apiKey: "OPENAI_API_KEY",
+                models: [],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        },
+        provider: "custom",
+      });
+      expect(resolved?.apiKey).toBe("sk-from-env");
+      expect(resolved?.source).toContain("OPENAI_API_KEY");
+    } finally {
+      if (previous === undefined) {
+        delete process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+      } else {
+        process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = previous;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("does not treat known env marker names as usable when env value is missing", () => {
+    const previous = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+    delete process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+    try {
+      expect(
+        hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(
+          {
+            models: {
+              providers: {
+                custom: {
+                  baseUrl: "https://example.com/v1",
+                  apiKey: "OPENAI_API_KEY",
+                  models: [],
+                },
+              },
+            },
+          },
+          "custom",
+        ),
+      ).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      if (previous === undefined) {
+        delete process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+      } else {
+        process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = previous;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth.ts b/src/agents/model-auth.ts
index aa94fddb02e..ffc7c1e2e9d 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ import {
   resolveAuthStorePathForDisplay,
 } from "./auth-profiles.js";
 import { PROVIDER_ENV_API_KEY_CANDIDATES } from "./model-auth-env-vars.js";
-import { OLLAMA_LOCAL_AUTH_MARKER } from "./model-auth-markers.js";
+import {
+  isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker,
+  isNonSecretApiKeyMarker,
+  OLLAMA_LOCAL_AUTH_MARKER,
+} from "./model-auth-markers.js";
 import { normalizeProviderId } from "./model-selection.js";
 
 export { ensureAuthProfileStore, resolveAuthProfileOrder } from "./auth-profiles.js";
@@ -60,6 +64,49 @@ export function getCustomProviderApiKey(
   return normalizeOptionalSecretInput(entry?.apiKey);
 }
 
+type ResolvedCustomProviderApiKey = {
+  apiKey: string;
+  source: string;
+};
+
+export function resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey(params: {
+  cfg: OpenClawConfig | undefined;
+  provider: string;
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+}): ResolvedCustomProviderApiKey | null {
+  const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(params.cfg, params.provider);
+  if (!customKey) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  if (!isNonSecretApiKeyMarker(customKey)) {
+    return { apiKey: customKey, source: "models.json" };
+  }
+  if (!isKnownEnvApiKeyMarker(customKey)) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const envValue = normalizeOptionalSecretInput((params.env ?? process.env)[customKey]);
+  if (!envValue) {
+    return null;
+  }
+  const applied = new Set(getShellEnvAppliedKeys());
+  return {
+    apiKey: envValue,
+    source: resolveEnvSourceLabel({
+      applied,
+      envVars: [customKey],
+      label: `${customKey} (models.json marker)`,
+    }),
+  };
+}
+
+export function hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(
+  cfg: OpenClawConfig | undefined,
+  provider: string,
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+): boolean {
+  return Boolean(resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider, env }));
+}
+
 function resolveProviderAuthOverride(
   cfg: OpenClawConfig | undefined,
   provider: string,
@@ -238,9 +285,9 @@ export async function resolveApiKeyForProvider(params: {
     };
   }
 
-  const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider);
+  const customKey = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider });
   if (customKey) {
-    return { apiKey: customKey, source: "models.json", mode: "api-key" };
+    return { apiKey: customKey.apiKey, source: customKey.source, mode: "api-key" };
   }
 
   const syntheticLocalAuth = resolveSyntheticLocalProviderAuth({ cfg, provider });
@@ -360,7 +407,7 @@ export function resolveModelAuthMode(
     return envKey.source.includes("OAUTH_TOKEN") ? "oauth" : "api-key";
   }
 
-  if (getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, resolved)) {
+  if (hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, resolved)) {
     return "api-key";
   }
 
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.fills-missing-provider-apikey-from-env-var.test.ts b/src/agents/models-config.fills-missing-provider-apikey-from-env-var.test.ts
index ef03fb3863b..1d214e2cc1a 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.fills-missing-provider-apikey-from-env-var.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.fills-missing-provider-apikey-from-env-var.test.ts
@@ -477,6 +477,51 @@ describe("models-config", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("replaces stale merged apiKey when config key normalizes to a known env marker", async () => {
+    await withEnvVar("OPENAI_API_KEY", "sk-plaintext-should-not-appear", async () => {
+      await withTempHome(async () => {
+        await writeAgentModelsJson({
+          providers: {
+            openai: {
+              baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+              apiKey: "STALE_AGENT_KEY", // pragma: allowlist secret
+              api: "openai-completions",
+              models: [{ id: "gpt-4.1", name: "GPT-4.1", input: ["text"] }],
+            },
+          },
+        });
+        const cfg: OpenClawConfig = {
+          models: {
+            mode: "merge",
+            providers: {
+              openai: {
+                baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+                apiKey: "sk-plaintext-should-not-appear", // pragma: allowlist secret; simulates resolved ${OPENAI_API_KEY}
+                api: "openai-completions",
+                models: [
+                  {
+                    id: "gpt-4.1",
+                    name: "GPT-4.1",
+                    input: ["text"],
+                    reasoning: false,
+                    cost: { input: 0, output: 0, cacheRead: 0, cacheWrite: 0 },
+                    contextWindow: 128000,
+                    maxTokens: 16384,
+                  },
+                ],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        };
+        await ensureOpenClawModelsJson(cfg);
+        const result = await readGeneratedModelsJson<{
+          providers: Record<string, { apiKey?: string }>;
+        }>();
+        expect(result.providers.openai?.apiKey).toBe("OPENAI_API_KEY"); // pragma: allowlist secret
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   it("preserves explicit larger token limits when they exceed implicit catalog defaults", async () => {
     await withTempHome(async () => {
       await withEnvVar("MOONSHOT_API_KEY", "sk-moonshot-test", async () => {
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.merge.test.ts b/src/agents/models-config.merge.test.ts
index 5e0483fdb59..60c3624c3c1 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.merge.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.merge.test.ts
@@ -92,4 +92,25 @@ describe("models-config merge helpers", () => {
       }),
     );
   });
+
+  it("does not preserve stale plaintext apiKey when next entry is a marker", () => {
+    const merged = mergeWithExistingProviderSecrets({
+      nextProviders: {
+        custom: {
+          apiKey: "OPENAI_API_KEY", // pragma: allowlist secret
+          models: [{ id: "model", api: "openai-responses" }],
+        } as ProviderConfig,
+      },
+      existingProviders: {
+        custom: {
+          apiKey: preservedApiKey,
+          models: [{ id: "model", api: "openai-responses" }],
+        } as ExistingProviderConfig,
+      },
+      secretRefManagedProviders: new Set<string>(),
+      explicitBaseUrlProviders: new Set<string>(),
+    });
+
+    expect(merged.custom?.apiKey).toBe("OPENAI_API_KEY"); // pragma: allowlist secret
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.merge.ts b/src/agents/models-config.merge.ts
index da8a4abdaa2..e227ee413d5 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.merge.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.merge.ts
@@ -148,9 +148,14 @@ function resolveProviderApiSurface(
 function shouldPreserveExistingApiKey(params: {
   providerKey: string;
   existing: ExistingProviderConfig;
+  nextEntry: ProviderConfig;
   secretRefManagedProviders: ReadonlySet<string>;
 }): boolean {
-  const { providerKey, existing, secretRefManagedProviders } = params;
+  const { providerKey, existing, nextEntry, secretRefManagedProviders } = params;
+  const nextApiKey = typeof nextEntry.apiKey === "string" ? nextEntry.apiKey : "";
+  if (nextApiKey && isNonSecretApiKeyMarker(nextApiKey)) {
+    return false;
+  }
   return (
     !secretRefManagedProviders.has(providerKey) &&
     typeof existing.apiKey === "string" &&
@@ -198,7 +203,14 @@ export function mergeWithExistingProviderSecrets(params: {
       continue;
     }
     const preserved: Record<string, unknown> = {};
-    if (shouldPreserveExistingApiKey({ providerKey: key, existing, secretRefManagedProviders })) {
+    if (
+      shouldPreserveExistingApiKey({
+        providerKey: key,
+        existing,
+        nextEntry: newEntry,
+        secretRefManagedProviders,
+      })
+    ) {
       preserved.apiKey = existing.apiKey;
     }
     if (
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.providers.normalize-keys.test.ts b/src/agents/models-config.providers.normalize-keys.test.ts
index be92bbcd474..f8422d797dd 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.providers.normalize-keys.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.providers.normalize-keys.test.ts
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ describe("normalizeProviders", () => {
     const agentDir = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-agent-"));
     const original = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
     process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-test-secret-value-12345"; // pragma: allowlist secret
+    const secretRefManagedProviders = new Set<string>();
     try {
       const providers: NonNullable<NonNullable<OpenClawConfig["models"]>["providers"]> = {
         openai: {
@@ -97,8 +98,9 @@ describe("normalizeProviders", () => {
           ],
         },
       };
-      const normalized = normalizeProviders({ providers, agentDir });
+      const normalized = normalizeProviders({ providers, agentDir, secretRefManagedProviders });
       expect(normalized?.openai?.apiKey).toBe("OPENAI_API_KEY");
+      expect(secretRefManagedProviders.has("openai")).toBe(true);
     } finally {
       if (original === undefined) {
         delete process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.providers.ts b/src/agents/models-config.providers.ts
index 54cbf69b182..c63ed6865a8 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.providers.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.providers.ts
@@ -347,6 +347,9 @@ export function normalizeProviders(params: {
           apiKey: normalizedConfiguredApiKey,
         };
       }
+      if (isNonSecretApiKeyMarker(normalizedConfiguredApiKey)) {
+        params.secretRefManagedProviders?.add(normalizedKey);
+      }
       if (
         profileApiKey &&
         profileApiKey.source !== "plaintext" &&
@@ -370,6 +373,7 @@ export function normalizeProviders(params: {
       if (envVarName && env[envVarName] === currentApiKey) {
         mutated = true;
         normalizedProvider = { ...normalizedProvider, apiKey: envVarName };
+        params.secretRefManagedProviders?.add(normalizedKey);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.runtime-source-snapshot.test.ts b/src/agents/models-config.runtime-source-snapshot.test.ts
index 6d6ea0284ee..4c5889769cc 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.runtime-source-snapshot.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.runtime-source-snapshot.test.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,56 @@ describe("models-config runtime source snapshot", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("projects cloned runtime configs onto source snapshot when preserving provider auth", async () => {
+    await withTempHome(async () => {
+      const sourceConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        models: {
+          providers: {
+            openai: {
+              baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+              apiKey: { source: "env", provider: "default", id: "OPENAI_API_KEY" }, // pragma: allowlist secret
+              api: "openai-completions" as const,
+              models: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+      const runtimeConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        models: {
+          providers: {
+            openai: {
+              baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+              apiKey: "sk-runtime-resolved", // pragma: allowlist secret
+              api: "openai-completions" as const,
+              models: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+      const clonedRuntimeConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        ...runtimeConfig,
+        agents: {
+          defaults: {
+            imageModel: "openai/gpt-image-1",
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      try {
+        setRuntimeConfigSnapshot(runtimeConfig, sourceConfig);
+        await ensureOpenClawModelsJson(clonedRuntimeConfig);
+
+        const parsed = await readGeneratedModelsJson<{
+          providers: Record<string, { apiKey?: string }>;
+        }>();
+        expect(parsed.providers.openai?.apiKey).toBe("OPENAI_API_KEY"); // pragma: allowlist secret
+      } finally {
+        clearRuntimeConfigSnapshot();
+        clearConfigCache();
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
   it("uses header markers from runtime source snapshot instead of resolved runtime values", async () => {
     await withTempHome(async () => {
       const sourceConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
diff --git a/src/agents/models-config.ts b/src/agents/models-config.ts
index b9b8a7316d3..99714a1a792 100644
--- a/src/agents/models-config.ts
+++ b/src/agents/models-config.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import {
-  getRuntimeConfigSnapshot,
   getRuntimeConfigSourceSnapshot,
+  projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot,
   type OpenClawConfig,
   loadConfig,
 } from "../config/config.js";
@@ -44,17 +44,13 @@ async function writeModelsFileAtomic(targetPath: string, contents: string): Prom
 
 function resolveModelsConfigInput(config?: OpenClawConfig): OpenClawConfig {
   const runtimeSource = getRuntimeConfigSourceSnapshot();
-  if (!runtimeSource) {
-    return config ?? loadConfig();
-  }
   if (!config) {
-    return runtimeSource;
+    return runtimeSource ?? loadConfig();
   }
-  const runtimeResolved = getRuntimeConfigSnapshot();
-  if (runtimeResolved && config === runtimeResolved) {
-    return runtimeSource;
+  if (!runtimeSource) {
+    return config;
   }
-  return config;
+  return projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot(config);
 }
 
 async function withModelsJsonWriteLock<T>(targetPath: string, run: () => Promise<T>): Promise<T> {
diff --git a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.session-status.test.ts b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.session-status.test.ts
index dd361b70e67..db45e8d48b8 100644
--- a/src/agents/openclaw-tools.session-status.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/openclaw-tools.session-status.test.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ vi.mock("../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
 
 vi.mock("../agents/model-auth.js", () => ({
   resolveEnvApiKey: () => null,
-  getCustomProviderApiKey: () => null,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey: () => null,
   resolveModelAuthMode: () => "api-key",
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.test.ts
index 60b34684866..105f929b9b6 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.test.ts
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ describe("buildInlineProviderModels", () => {
     expect(result[0].headers).toBeUndefined();
   });
 
-  it("preserves literal marker-shaped headers in inline provider models", () => {
+  it("drops SecretRef marker headers in inline provider models", () => {
     const providers: Parameters<typeof buildInlineProviderModels>[0] = {
       custom: {
         headers: {
@@ -196,8 +196,6 @@ describe("buildInlineProviderModels", () => {
 
     expect(result).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(result[0].headers).toEqual({
-      Authorization: "secretref-env:OPENAI_HEADER_TOKEN",
-      "X-Managed": "secretref-managed",
       "X-Static": "tenant-a",
     });
   });
@@ -245,7 +243,7 @@ describe("resolveModel", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("preserves literal marker-shaped provider headers in fallback models", () => {
+  it("drops SecretRef marker provider headers in fallback models", () => {
     const cfg = {
       models: {
         providers: {
@@ -266,8 +264,6 @@ describe("resolveModel", () => {
 
     expect(result.error).toBeUndefined();
     expect((result.model as unknown as { headers?: Record<string, string> }).headers).toEqual({
-      Authorization: "secretref-env:OPENAI_HEADER_TOKEN",
-      "X-Managed": "secretref-managed",
       "X-Custom-Auth": "token-123",
     });
   });
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
index 638d66f787f..6f2852203bd 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/model.ts
@@ -81,8 +81,12 @@ function applyConfiguredProviderOverrides(params: {
   const discoveredHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(discoveredModel.headers, {
     stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
   });
-  const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(providerConfig.headers);
-  const configuredHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(configuredModel?.headers);
+  const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(providerConfig.headers, {
+    stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+  });
+  const configuredHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(configuredModel?.headers, {
+    stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+  });
   if (!configuredModel && !providerConfig.baseUrl && !providerConfig.api && !providerHeaders) {
     return {
       ...discoveredModel,
@@ -118,14 +122,18 @@ export function buildInlineProviderModels(
     if (!trimmed) {
       return [];
     }
-    const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(entry?.headers);
+    const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(entry?.headers, {
+      stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+    });
     return (entry?.models ?? []).map((model) => ({
       ...model,
       provider: trimmed,
       baseUrl: entry?.baseUrl,
       api: model.api ?? entry?.api,
       headers: (() => {
-        const modelHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders((model as InlineModelEntry).headers);
+        const modelHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders((model as InlineModelEntry).headers, {
+          stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+        });
         if (!providerHeaders && !modelHeaders) {
           return undefined;
         }
@@ -205,8 +213,12 @@ export function resolveModelWithRegistry(params: {
   }
 
   const configuredModel = providerConfig?.models?.find((candidate) => candidate.id === modelId);
-  const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(providerConfig?.headers);
-  const modelHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(configuredModel?.headers);
+  const providerHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(providerConfig?.headers, {
+    stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+  });
+  const modelHeaders = sanitizeModelHeaders(configuredModel?.headers, {
+    stripSecretRefMarkers: true,
+  });
   if (providerConfig || modelId.startsWith("mock-")) {
     return normalizeResolvedModel({
       provider,
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.test.ts
index 04249b88795..4faad0c3ee6 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ vi.mock("../../agents/model-selection.js", () => ({
 
 vi.mock("../../agents/model-auth.js", () => ({
   ensureAuthProfileStore: () => mockStore,
-  getCustomProviderApiKey: () => undefined,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey: () => null,
   resolveAuthProfileOrder: () => mockOrder,
   resolveEnvApiKey: () => null,
 }));
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.ts
index dd33ed6ae73..26647d77c68 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.auth.ts
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ import {
 } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import {
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
-  getCustomProviderApiKey,
   resolveAuthProfileOrder,
   resolveEnvApiKey,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
 } from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
 import { findNormalizedProviderValue, normalizeProviderId } from "../../agents/model-selection.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ export const resolveAuthLabel = async (
     const label = isOAuthEnv ? "OAuth (env)" : maskApiKey(envKey.apiKey);
     return { label, source: mode === "verbose" ? envKey.source : "" };
   }
-  const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider);
+  const customKey = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider })?.apiKey;
   if (customKey) {
     return {
       label: maskApiKey(customKey),
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/setup-helpers.test.ts b/src/channels/plugins/setup-helpers.test.ts
index df4609fc76f..10069c0b9f4 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/setup-helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/setup-helpers.test.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe("applySetupAccountConfigPatch", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("patches named account config and enables both channel and account", () => {
+  it("patches named account config and preserves existing account enabled flag", () => {
     const next = applySetupAccountConfigPatch({
       cfg: asConfig({
         channels: {
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ describe("applySetupAccountConfigPatch", () => {
     expect(next.channels?.zalo).toMatchObject({
       enabled: true,
       accounts: {
-        work: { enabled: true, botToken: "new" },
+        work: { enabled: false, botToken: "new" },
       },
     });
   });
diff --git a/src/commands/auth-choice.model-check.ts b/src/commands/auth-choice.model-check.ts
index ea7da2f9d6d..975fc3521d3 100644
--- a/src/commands/auth-choice.model-check.ts
+++ b/src/commands/auth-choice.model-check.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { ensureAuthProfileStore, listProfilesForProvider } from "../agents/auth-profiles.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
+import { hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
 import { loadModelCatalog } from "../agents/model-catalog.js";
 import { resolveDefaultModelForAgent } from "../agents/model-selection.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ export async function warnIfModelConfigLooksOff(
   const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(options?.agentDir);
   const hasProfile = listProfilesForProvider(store, ref.provider).length > 0;
   const envKey = resolveEnvApiKey(ref.provider);
-  const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(config, ref.provider);
-  if (!hasProfile && !envKey && !customKey) {
+  const hasCustomKey = hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(config, ref.provider);
+  if (!hasProfile && !envKey && !hasCustomKey) {
     warnings.push(
       `No auth configured for provider "${ref.provider}". The agent may fail until credentials are added.`,
     );
diff --git a/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts b/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
index 5cf0fd57547..a98dd78e510 100644
--- a/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ vi.mock("../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 const resolveEnvApiKey = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => undefined));
-const getCustomProviderApiKey = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => undefined));
+const hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => false));
 vi.mock("../agents/model-auth.js", () => ({
   resolveEnvApiKey,
-  getCustomProviderApiKey,
+  hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
 }));
 
 const OPENROUTER_CATALOG = [
diff --git a/src/commands/model-picker.ts b/src/commands/model-picker.ts
index db794210354..1fe4170b7c2 100644
--- a/src/commands/model-picker.ts
+++ b/src/commands/model-picker.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { ensureAuthProfileStore, listProfilesForProvider } from "../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { DEFAULT_MODEL, DEFAULT_PROVIDER } from "../agents/defaults.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
+import { hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
 import { loadModelCatalog } from "../agents/model-catalog.js";
 import {
   buildAllowedModelSet,
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ function hasAuthForProvider(
   if (resolveEnvApiKey(provider)) {
     return true;
   }
-  if (getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider)) {
+  if (hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider)) {
     return true;
   }
   return false;
diff --git a/src/commands/models.list.e2e.test.ts b/src/commands/models.list.e2e.test.ts
index e7d55e00b3c..fc80137b0f0 100644
--- a/src/commands/models.list.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models.list.e2e.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ const resolveAuthStorePathForDisplay = vi
 const resolveProfileUnusableUntilForDisplay = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(null);
 const resolveEnvApiKey = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined);
 const resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined);
+const hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false);
+const resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(null);
 const getCustomProviderApiKey = vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined);
 const modelRegistryState = {
   models: [] as Array<Record<string, unknown>>,
@@ -57,6 +59,8 @@ vi.mock("../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
 vi.mock("../agents/model-auth.js", () => ({
   resolveEnvApiKey,
   resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName,
+  hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
   getCustomProviderApiKey,
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.test.ts b/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.test.ts
index 98906ced281..69807a5d7a7 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.test.ts
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ describe("resolveProviderAuthOverview", () => {
       modelsPath: "/tmp/models.json",
     });
 
-    expect(overview.effective.kind).toBe("models.json");
-    expect(overview.effective.detail).toContain(`marker(${NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER})`);
+    expect(overview.effective.kind).toBe("missing");
+    expect(overview.effective.detail).toBe("missing");
     expect(overview.modelsJson?.value).toContain(`marker(${NON_ENV_SECRETREF_MARKER})`);
   });
 
@@ -66,8 +66,41 @@ describe("resolveProviderAuthOverview", () => {
       modelsPath: "/tmp/models.json",
     });
 
-    expect(overview.effective.kind).toBe("models.json");
-    expect(overview.effective.detail).not.toContain("marker(");
-    expect(overview.effective.detail).not.toContain("OPENAI_API_KEY");
+    expect(overview.effective.kind).toBe("missing");
+    expect(overview.effective.detail).toBe("missing");
+    expect(overview.modelsJson?.value).not.toContain("marker(");
+    expect(overview.modelsJson?.value).not.toContain("OPENAI_API_KEY");
+  });
+
+  it("treats env-var marker as usable only when the env key is currently resolvable", () => {
+    const prior = process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+    process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-openai-from-env"; // pragma: allowlist secret
+    try {
+      const overview = resolveProviderAuthOverview({
+        provider: "openai",
+        cfg: {
+          models: {
+            providers: {
+              openai: {
+                baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+                api: "openai-completions",
+                apiKey: "OPENAI_API_KEY", // pragma: allowlist secret
+                models: [],
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        } as never,
+        store: { version: 1, profiles: {} } as never,
+        modelsPath: "/tmp/models.json",
+      });
+      expect(overview.effective.kind).toBe("env");
+      expect(overview.effective.detail).not.toContain("OPENAI_API_KEY");
+    } finally {
+      if (prior === undefined) {
+        delete process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY;
+      } else {
+        process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY = prior;
+      }
+    }
   });
 });
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.ts b/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.ts
index 28880415eeb..17803153c42 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.auth-overview.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ import {
   resolveProfileUnusableUntilForDisplay,
 } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { isNonSecretApiKeyMarker } from "../../agents/model-auth-markers.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
+import {
+  getCustomProviderApiKey,
+  resolveEnvApiKey,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
+} from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { shortenHomePath } from "../../utils.js";
 import { maskApiKey } from "./list.format.js";
@@ -99,6 +103,7 @@ export function resolveProviderAuthOverview(params: {
 
   const envKey = resolveEnvApiKey(provider);
   const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider);
+  const usableCustomKey = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider });
 
   const effective: ProviderAuthOverview["effective"] = (() => {
     if (profiles.length > 0) {
@@ -115,8 +120,8 @@ export function resolveProviderAuthOverview(params: {
         detail: isOAuthEnv ? "OAuth (env)" : maskApiKey(envKey.apiKey),
       };
     }
-    if (customKey) {
-      return { kind: "models.json", detail: formatMarkerOrSecret(customKey) };
+    if (usableCustomKey) {
+      return { kind: "models.json", detail: formatMarkerOrSecret(usableCustomKey.apiKey) };
     }
     return { kind: "missing", detail: "missing" };
   })();
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts b/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
index 40eb6b99b9b..5311b004ce2 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ import {
   resolveAuthProfileOrder,
 } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { describeFailoverError } from "../../agents/failover-error.js";
-import { isNonSecretApiKeyMarker } from "../../agents/model-auth-markers.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
+import { hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey, resolveEnvApiKey } from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
 import { loadModelCatalog } from "../../agents/model-catalog.js";
 import {
   findNormalizedProviderValue,
@@ -373,8 +372,7 @@ export async function buildProbeTargets(params: {
     }
 
     const envKey = resolveEnvApiKey(providerKey);
-    const customKey = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, providerKey);
-    const hasUsableModelsJsonKey = Boolean(customKey && !isNonSecretApiKeyMarker(customKey));
+    const hasUsableModelsJsonKey = hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, providerKey);
     if (!envKey && !hasUsableModelsJsonKey) {
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.registry.ts b/src/commands/models/list.registry.ts
index 340d49155df..0bc0604432e 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.registry.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.registry.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { resolveOpenClawAgentDir } from "../../agents/agent-paths.js";
 import type { AuthProfileStore } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { listProfilesForProvider } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import {
-  getCustomProviderApiKey,
+  hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
   resolveAwsSdkEnvVarName,
   resolveEnvApiKey,
 } from "../../agents/model-auth.js";
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ const hasAuthForProvider = (
   if (resolveEnvApiKey(provider)) {
     return true;
   }
-  if (getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider)) {
+  if (hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, provider)) {
     return true;
   }
   return false;
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.status.test.ts b/src/commands/models/list.status.test.ts
index 6f06e63f4b8..9b408f50d93 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.status.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.status.test.ts
@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ const mocks = vi.hoisted(() => {
       }
       return null;
     }),
+    hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(false),
+    resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(null),
     getCustomProviderApiKey: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(undefined),
     getShellEnvAppliedKeys: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(["OPENAI_API_KEY", "ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN"]),
     shouldEnableShellEnvFallback: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
@@ -106,6 +108,8 @@ vi.mock("../../agents/auth-profiles.js", async (importOriginal) => {
 
 vi.mock("../../agents/model-auth.js", () => ({
   resolveEnvApiKey: mocks.resolveEnvApiKey,
+  hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey: mocks.hasUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
+  resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey: mocks.resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey,
   getCustomProviderApiKey: mocks.getCustomProviderApiKey,
 }));
 
diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index 7caaa15a95f..3bd36d0d709 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export {
   createConfigIO,
   getRuntimeConfigSnapshot,
   getRuntimeConfigSourceSnapshot,
+  projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot,
   loadConfig,
   readBestEffortConfig,
   parseConfigJson5,
diff --git a/src/config/io.runtime-snapshot-write.test.ts b/src/config/io.runtime-snapshot-write.test.ts
index 71ddbbb8de3..480897c698c 100644
--- a/src/config/io.runtime-snapshot-write.test.ts
+++ b/src/config/io.runtime-snapshot-write.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {
   clearRuntimeConfigSnapshot,
   getRuntimeConfigSourceSnapshot,
   loadConfig,
+  projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot,
   setRuntimeConfigSnapshotRefreshHandler,
   setRuntimeConfigSnapshot,
   writeConfigFile,
@@ -61,6 +62,46 @@ describe("runtime config snapshot writes", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("skips source projection for non-runtime-derived configs", async () => {
+    await withTempHome("openclaw-config-runtime-projection-shape-", async () => {
+      const sourceConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        ...createSourceConfig(),
+        gateway: {
+          auth: {
+            mode: "token",
+          },
+        },
+      };
+      const runtimeConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        ...createRuntimeConfig(),
+        gateway: {
+          auth: {
+            mode: "token",
+          },
+        },
+      };
+      const independentConfig: OpenClawConfig = {
+        models: {
+          providers: {
+            openai: {
+              baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+              apiKey: "sk-independent-config", // pragma: allowlist secret
+              models: [],
+            },
+          },
+        },
+      };
+
+      try {
+        setRuntimeConfigSnapshot(runtimeConfig, sourceConfig);
+        const projected = projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot(independentConfig);
+        expect(projected).toBe(independentConfig);
+      } finally {
+        resetRuntimeConfigState();
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
   it("clears runtime source snapshot when runtime snapshot is cleared", async () => {
     const sourceConfig = createSourceConfig();
     const runtimeConfig = createRuntimeConfig();
diff --git a/src/config/io.ts b/src/config/io.ts
index 5a9026310eb..2b542bba755 100644
--- a/src/config/io.ts
+++ b/src/config/io.ts
@@ -1374,6 +1374,58 @@ export function getRuntimeConfigSourceSnapshot(): OpenClawConfig | null {
   return runtimeConfigSourceSnapshot;
 }
 
+function isCompatibleTopLevelRuntimeProjectionShape(params: {
+  runtimeSnapshot: OpenClawConfig;
+  candidate: OpenClawConfig;
+}): boolean {
+  const runtime = params.runtimeSnapshot as Record<string, unknown>;
+  const candidate = params.candidate as Record<string, unknown>;
+  for (const key of Object.keys(runtime)) {
+    if (!Object.hasOwn(candidate, key)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+    const runtimeValue = runtime[key];
+    const candidateValue = candidate[key];
+    const runtimeType = Array.isArray(runtimeValue)
+      ? "array"
+      : runtimeValue === null
+        ? "null"
+        : typeof runtimeValue;
+    const candidateType = Array.isArray(candidateValue)
+      ? "array"
+      : candidateValue === null
+        ? "null"
+        : typeof candidateValue;
+    if (runtimeType !== candidateType) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+  return true;
+}
+
+export function projectConfigOntoRuntimeSourceSnapshot(config: OpenClawConfig): OpenClawConfig {
+  if (!runtimeConfigSnapshot || !runtimeConfigSourceSnapshot) {
+    return config;
+  }
+  if (config === runtimeConfigSnapshot) {
+    return runtimeConfigSourceSnapshot;
+  }
+  // This projection expects callers to pass config objects derived from the
+  // active runtime snapshot (for example shallow/deep clones with targeted edits).
+  // For structurally unrelated configs, skip projection to avoid accidental
+  // merge-patch deletions or reintroducing resolved values into source refs.
+  if (
+    !isCompatibleTopLevelRuntimeProjectionShape({
+      runtimeSnapshot: runtimeConfigSnapshot,
+      candidate: config,
+    })
+  ) {
+    return config;
+  }
+  const runtimePatch = createMergePatch(runtimeConfigSnapshot, config);
+  return coerceConfig(applyMergePatch(runtimeConfigSourceSnapshot, runtimePatch));
+}
+
 export function setRuntimeConfigSnapshotRefreshHandler(
   refreshHandler: RuntimeConfigSnapshotRefreshHandler | null,
 ): void {
diff --git a/src/infra/provider-usage.auth.ts b/src/infra/provider-usage.auth.ts
index 6afa4bebaad..3c6246d0786 100644
--- a/src/infra/provider-usage.auth.ts
+++ b/src/infra/provider-usage.auth.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
   resolveAuthProfileOrder,
 } from "../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { isNonSecretApiKeyMarker } from "../agents/model-auth-markers.js";
-import { getCustomProviderApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
+import { resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey } from "../agents/model-auth.js";
 import { normalizeProviderId } from "../agents/model-selection.js";
 import { loadConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { normalizeSecretInput } from "../utils/normalize-secret-input.js";
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ function resolveZaiApiKey(): string | undefined {
   }
 
   const cfg = loadConfig();
-  const key = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, "zai") || getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, "z-ai");
+  const key =
+    resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider: "zai" })?.apiKey ??
+    resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({ cfg, provider: "z-ai" })?.apiKey;
   if (key) {
     return key;
   }
@@ -103,8 +105,11 @@ function resolveProviderApiKeyFromConfigAndStore(params: {
   }
 
   const cfg = loadConfig();
-  const key = getCustomProviderApiKey(cfg, params.providerId);
-  if (key && !isNonSecretApiKeyMarker(key)) {
+  const key = resolveUsableCustomProviderApiKey({
+    cfg,
+    provider: params.providerId,
+  })?.apiKey;
+  if (key) {
     return key;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/secrets/audit.test.ts b/src/secrets/audit.test.ts
index b797494d54a..d71c9a46cd9 100644
--- a/src/secrets/audit.test.ts
+++ b/src/secrets/audit.test.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type AuditFixture = {
 };
 
 const OPENAI_API_KEY_MARKER = "OPENAI_API_KEY"; // pragma: allowlist secret
+const MAX_AUDIT_MODELS_JSON_BYTES = 5 * 1024 * 1024;
 
 async function writeJsonFile(filePath: string, value: unknown): Promise<void> {
   await fs.writeFile(filePath, `${JSON.stringify(value, null, 2)}\n`, "utf8");
@@ -482,6 +483,73 @@ describe("secrets audit", () => {
     ).toBe(true);
   });
 
+  it("reports non-regular models.json files as unresolved findings", async () => {
+    await fs.rm(fixture.modelsPath, { force: true });
+    await fs.mkdir(fixture.modelsPath, { recursive: true });
+    const report = await runSecretsAudit({ env: fixture.env });
+    expect(
+      hasFinding(
+        report,
+        (entry) => entry.code === "REF_UNRESOLVED" && entry.file === fixture.modelsPath,
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("reports oversized models.json as unresolved findings", async () => {
+    const oversizedApiKey = "a".repeat(MAX_AUDIT_MODELS_JSON_BYTES + 256);
+    await writeJsonFile(fixture.modelsPath, {
+      providers: {
+        openai: {
+          baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+          api: "openai-completions",
+          apiKey: oversizedApiKey,
+          models: [{ id: "gpt-5", name: "gpt-5" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const report = await runSecretsAudit({ env: fixture.env });
+    expect(
+      hasFinding(
+        report,
+        (entry) => entry.code === "REF_UNRESOLVED" && entry.file === fixture.modelsPath,
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("scans active agent-dir override models.json even when outside state dir", async () => {
+    const externalAgentDir = path.join(fixture.rootDir, "external-agent");
+    const externalModelsPath = path.join(externalAgentDir, "models.json");
+    await fs.mkdir(externalAgentDir, { recursive: true });
+    await writeJsonFile(externalModelsPath, {
+      providers: {
+        openai: {
+          baseUrl: "https://api.openai.com/v1",
+          api: "openai-completions",
+          apiKey: "sk-external-plaintext", // pragma: allowlist secret
+          models: [{ id: "gpt-5", name: "gpt-5" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const report = await runSecretsAudit({
+      env: {
+        ...fixture.env,
+        OPENCLAW_AGENT_DIR: externalAgentDir,
+      },
+    });
+    expect(
+      hasFinding(
+        report,
+        (entry) =>
+          entry.code === "PLAINTEXT_FOUND" &&
+          entry.file === externalModelsPath &&
+          entry.jsonPath === "providers.openai.apiKey",
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+    expect(report.filesScanned).toContain(externalModelsPath);
+  });
+
   it("does not flag non-sensitive routing headers in openclaw config", async () => {
     await writeJsonFile(fixture.configPath, {
       models: {
diff --git a/src/secrets/audit.ts b/src/secrets/audit.ts
index 3215b3ce855..15d7157acea 100644
--- a/src/secrets/audit.ts
+++ b/src/secrets/audit.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ type AuditCollector = {
 };
 
 const REF_RESOLVE_FALLBACK_CONCURRENCY = 8;
+const MAX_AUDIT_MODELS_JSON_BYTES = 5 * 1024 * 1024;
 const ALWAYS_SENSITIVE_MODEL_PROVIDER_HEADER_NAMES = new Set([
   "authorization",
   "proxy-authorization",
@@ -369,7 +370,10 @@ function collectModelsJsonSecrets(params: {
     return;
   }
   params.collector.filesScanned.add(params.modelsJsonPath);
-  const parsedResult = readJsonObjectIfExists(params.modelsJsonPath);
+  const parsedResult = readJsonObjectIfExists(params.modelsJsonPath, {
+    requireRegularFile: true,
+    maxBytes: MAX_AUDIT_MODELS_JSON_BYTES,
+  });
   if (parsedResult.error) {
     addFinding(params.collector, {
       code: "REF_UNRESOLVED",
@@ -630,7 +634,7 @@ export async function runSecretsAudit(
         defaults,
       });
     }
-    for (const modelsJsonPath of listAgentModelsJsonPaths(config, stateDir)) {
+    for (const modelsJsonPath of listAgentModelsJsonPaths(config, stateDir, env)) {
       collectModelsJsonSecrets({
         modelsJsonPath,
         collector,
diff --git a/src/secrets/storage-scan.ts b/src/secrets/storage-scan.ts
index 557f611c006..a63ced10a9b 100644
--- a/src/secrets/storage-scan.ts
+++ b/src/secrets/storage-scan.ts
@@ -32,11 +32,25 @@ export function listLegacyAuthJsonPaths(stateDir: string): string[] {
   return out;
 }
 
-export function listAgentModelsJsonPaths(config: OpenClawConfig, stateDir: string): string[] {
-  const paths = new Set<string>();
-  paths.add(path.join(resolveUserPath(stateDir), "agents", "main", "agent", "models.json"));
+function resolveActiveAgentDir(stateDir: string, env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env): string {
+  const override = env.OPENCLAW_AGENT_DIR?.trim() || env.PI_CODING_AGENT_DIR?.trim();
+  if (override) {
+    return resolveUserPath(override);
+  }
+  return path.join(resolveUserPath(stateDir), "agents", "main", "agent");
+}
 
-  const agentsRoot = path.join(resolveUserPath(stateDir), "agents");
+export function listAgentModelsJsonPaths(
+  config: OpenClawConfig,
+  stateDir: string,
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env,
+): string[] {
+  const resolvedStateDir = resolveUserPath(stateDir);
+  const paths = new Set<string>();
+  paths.add(path.join(resolvedStateDir, "agents", "main", "agent", "models.json"));
+  paths.add(path.join(resolveActiveAgentDir(stateDir, env), "models.json"));
+
+  const agentsRoot = path.join(resolvedStateDir, "agents");
   if (fs.existsSync(agentsRoot)) {
     for (const entry of fs.readdirSync(agentsRoot, { withFileTypes: true })) {
       if (!entry.isDirectory()) {
@@ -48,7 +62,7 @@ export function listAgentModelsJsonPaths(config: OpenClawConfig, stateDir: strin
 
   for (const agentId of listAgentIds(config)) {
     if (agentId === "main") {
-      paths.add(path.join(resolveUserPath(stateDir), "agents", "main", "agent", "models.json"));
+      paths.add(path.join(resolvedStateDir, "agents", "main", "agent", "models.json"));
       continue;
     }
     const agentDir = resolveAgentDir(config, agentId);
@@ -58,14 +72,51 @@ export function listAgentModelsJsonPaths(config: OpenClawConfig, stateDir: strin
   return [...paths];
 }
 
+export type ReadJsonObjectOptions = {
+  maxBytes?: number;
+  requireRegularFile?: boolean;
+};
+
 export function readJsonObjectIfExists(filePath: string): {
   value: Record<string, unknown> | null;
   error?: string;
+};
+export function readJsonObjectIfExists(
+  filePath: string,
+  options: ReadJsonObjectOptions,
+): {
+  value: Record<string, unknown> | null;
+  error?: string;
+};
+export function readJsonObjectIfExists(
+  filePath: string,
+  options: ReadJsonObjectOptions = {},
+): {
+  value: Record<string, unknown> | null;
+  error?: string;
 } {
   if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
     return { value: null };
   }
   try {
+    const stats = fs.statSync(filePath);
+    if (options.requireRegularFile && !stats.isFile()) {
+      return {
+        value: null,
+        error: `Refusing to read non-regular file: ${filePath}`,
+      };
+    }
+    if (
+      typeof options.maxBytes === "number" &&
+      Number.isFinite(options.maxBytes) &&
+      options.maxBytes >= 0 &&
+      stats.size > options.maxBytes
+    ) {
+      return {
+        value: null,
+        error: `Refusing to read oversized JSON (${stats.size} bytes): ${filePath}`,
+      };
+    }
     const raw = fs.readFileSync(filePath, "utf8");
     const parsed = JSON.parse(raw) as unknown;
     if (!parsed || typeof parsed !== "object" || Array.isArray(parsed)) {