diff --git a/docs/auth-credential-semantics.md b/docs/auth-credential-semantics.md
index 3c1f81ba371..ac7ca384328 100644
--- a/docs/auth-credential-semantics.md
+++ b/docs/auth-credential-semantics.md
@@ -85,6 +85,9 @@ the target agent signs in separately and creates its own local profile.
 - Runtime-only credentials owned by external CLIs are discovered only when the
   provider, runtime, or auth profile is in scope for the current operation, or
   when a stored local profile for that external source already exists.
+- Auth-store callers should choose an explicit external-CLI discovery mode:
+  `none` for persisted/plugin auth only, `existing` for refreshing already
+  stored external CLI profiles, or `scoped` for a concrete provider/profile set.
 - Read-only/status paths pass `allowKeychainPrompt: false`; they use file-backed
   external CLI credentials only and do not read or reuse macOS Keychain results.
 
diff --git a/extensions/qa-lab/src/model-selection.runtime.test.ts b/extensions/qa-lab/src/model-selection.runtime.test.ts
index 5e781d48dce..616ae5f1129 100644
--- a/extensions/qa-lab/src/model-selection.runtime.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/qa-lab/src/model-selection.runtime.test.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ describe("qa model selection runtime", () => {
 
     expect(resolveQaPreferredLiveModel()).toBe("openai/gpt-5.5");
     expect(defaultQaRuntimeModelForMode("live-frontier")).toBe("openai/gpt-5.5");
+    expect(loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime).toHaveBeenCalledWith(undefined, {
+      readOnly: true,
+      allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      externalCliProviderIds: ["openai-codex"],
+    });
   });
 
   it("keeps the OpenAI live default when stored OpenAI profiles are available", () => {
diff --git a/extensions/qa-lab/src/providers/live-frontier/model-selection.runtime.ts b/extensions/qa-lab/src/providers/live-frontier/model-selection.runtime.ts
index 00c79573d73..e355c1e8813 100644
--- a/extensions/qa-lab/src/providers/live-frontier/model-selection.runtime.ts
+++ b/extensions/qa-lab/src/providers/live-frontier/model-selection.runtime.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export function resolveQaLiveFrontierPreferredModel() {
     const store = loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(undefined, {
       readOnly: true,
       allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      externalCliProviderIds: ["openai-codex"],
     });
     if (listProfilesForProvider(store, "openai").length > 0) {
       return undefined;
diff --git a/src/agents/auth-profiles.ts b/src/agents/auth-profiles.ts
index 204607af9cb..0722e0961e2 100644
--- a/src/agents/auth-profiles.ts
+++ b/src/agents/auth-profiles.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,15 @@ export type {
 export type { AuthProfileEligibilityReasonCode } from "./auth-profiles/order.js";
 export { resolveAuthProfileDisplayLabel } from "./auth-profiles/display.js";
 export { formatAuthDoctorHint } from "./auth-profiles/doctor.js";
+export {
+  externalCliDiscoveryExisting,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForConfigStatus,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviders,
+  externalCliDiscoveryNone,
+  externalCliDiscoveryScoped,
+  type ExternalCliAuthDiscovery,
+} from "./auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.js";
 export { resolveApiKeyForProfile } from "./auth-profiles/oauth.js";
 export { resolveAuthProfileEligibility, resolveAuthProfileOrder } from "./auth-profiles/order.js";
 export {
diff --git a/src/agents/auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.ts b/src/agents/auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d8c0a48ec90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/agents/auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/types.openclaw.js";
+import {
+  resolveExternalCliAuthScopeFromConfig,
+  type ExternalCliAuthScope,
+} from "./external-cli-scope.js";
+
+export type ExternalCliAuthDiscovery =
+  | {
+      mode: "none";
+      allowKeychainPrompt?: false;
+      config?: OpenClawConfig;
+    }
+  | {
+      mode: "existing";
+      allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+      config?: OpenClawConfig;
+    }
+  | {
+      mode: "scoped";
+      allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+      config?: OpenClawConfig;
+      providerIds?: Iterable<string>;
+      profileIds?: Iterable<string>;
+    };
+
+type ProviderAuthDiscoveryParams = {
+  cfg?: OpenClawConfig;
+  provider: string;
+  profileId?: string;
+  preferredProfile?: string;
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+};
+
+type ConfigStatusDiscoveryParams = {
+  cfg: OpenClawConfig;
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: false;
+};
+
+type ProviderSetDiscoveryParams = {
+  cfg?: OpenClawConfig;
+  providers: Iterable<string>;
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: false;
+};
+
+function normalizeStringList(values: Iterable<string | undefined>): string[] {
+  return [...values]
+    .map((value) => value?.trim())
+    .filter((value): value is string => Boolean(value));
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryNone(params?: {
+  config?: OpenClawConfig;
+}): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  return {
+    mode: "none",
+    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+    ...(params?.config ? { config: params.config } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryExisting(params?: {
+  config?: OpenClawConfig;
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+}): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  return {
+    mode: "existing",
+    ...(params?.allowKeychainPrompt !== undefined
+      ? { allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt }
+      : {}),
+    ...(params?.config ? { config: params.config } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryScoped(params: {
+  config?: OpenClawConfig;
+  providerIds?: Iterable<string>;
+  profileIds?: Iterable<string>;
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+}): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  return {
+    mode: "scoped",
+    ...(params.allowKeychainPrompt !== undefined
+      ? { allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt }
+      : {}),
+    ...(params.config ? { config: params.config } : {}),
+    ...(params.providerIds ? { providerIds: params.providerIds } : {}),
+    ...(params.profileIds ? { profileIds: params.profileIds } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth(
+  params: ProviderAuthDiscoveryParams,
+): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  const profileIds = normalizeStringList([params.profileId, params.preferredProfile]);
+  return externalCliDiscoveryScoped({
+    config: params.cfg,
+    allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt ?? false,
+    providerIds: [params.provider],
+    ...(profileIds.length > 0 ? { profileIds } : {}),
+  });
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryForConfigStatus(
+  params: ConfigStatusDiscoveryParams,
+): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  const scope = resolveExternalCliAuthScopeFromConfig(params.cfg);
+  return externalCliDiscoveryFromScope({
+    cfg: params.cfg,
+    scope,
+    allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt ?? false,
+  });
+}
+
+export function externalCliDiscoveryForProviders(
+  params: ProviderSetDiscoveryParams,
+): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  const providers = normalizeStringList(params.providers);
+  if (providers.length === 0) {
+    return externalCliDiscoveryNone({ config: params.cfg });
+  }
+  return externalCliDiscoveryScoped({
+    config: params.cfg,
+    allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt ?? false,
+    providerIds: providers,
+  });
+}
+
+function externalCliDiscoveryFromScope(params: {
+  cfg: OpenClawConfig;
+  scope: ExternalCliAuthScope | undefined;
+  allowKeychainPrompt: false;
+}): ExternalCliAuthDiscovery {
+  if (!params.scope) {
+    return externalCliDiscoveryNone({ config: params.cfg });
+  }
+  return externalCliDiscoveryScoped({
+    config: params.cfg,
+    allowKeychainPrompt: params.allowKeychainPrompt,
+    providerIds: params.scope.providerIds,
+    profileIds: params.scope.profileIds,
+  });
+}
diff --git a/src/agents/auth-profiles/store.ts b/src/agents/auth-profiles/store.ts
index 25599413cda..8484d62fcfe 100644
--- a/src/agents/auth-profiles/store.ts
+++ b/src/agents/auth-profiles/store.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   log,
 } from "./constants.js";
 import { overlayExternalAuthProfiles, shouldPersistExternalAuthProfile } from "./external-auth.js";
+import type { ExternalCliAuthDiscovery } from "./external-cli-discovery.js";
 import { isSafeToAdoptMainStoreOAuthIdentity } from "./oauth-shared.js";
 import {
   ensureAuthStoreFile,
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ import type { AuthProfileStore } from "./types.js";
 type LoadAuthProfileStoreOptions = {
   allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
   config?: OpenClawConfig;
+  externalCli?: ExternalCliAuthDiscovery;
   readOnly?: boolean;
   syncExternalCli?: boolean;
   externalCliProviderIds?: Iterable<string>;
@@ -49,6 +51,13 @@ type SaveAuthProfileStoreOptions = {
   syncExternalCli?: boolean;
 };
 
+type ResolvedExternalCliOverlayOptions = {
+  allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
+  config?: OpenClawConfig;
+  externalCliProviderIds?: Iterable<string>;
+  externalCliProfileIds?: Iterable<string>;
+};
+
 const loadedAuthStoreCache = new Map<
   string,
   {
@@ -183,6 +192,51 @@ function writeCachedAuthProfileStore(params: {
   });
 }
 
+function resolveExternalCliOverlayOptions(
+  options: LoadAuthProfileStoreOptions | undefined,
+): ResolvedExternalCliOverlayOptions {
+  const discovery = options?.externalCli;
+  if (!discovery) {
+    return {
+      ...(options?.allowKeychainPrompt !== undefined
+        ? { allowKeychainPrompt: options.allowKeychainPrompt }
+        : {}),
+      ...(options?.config ? { config: options.config } : {}),
+      ...(options?.externalCliProviderIds
+        ? { externalCliProviderIds: options.externalCliProviderIds }
+        : {}),
+      ...(options?.externalCliProfileIds
+        ? { externalCliProfileIds: options.externalCliProfileIds }
+        : {}),
+    };
+  }
+  if (discovery.mode === "none") {
+    const config = discovery.config ?? options?.config;
+    return {
+      allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      ...(config ? { config } : {}),
+      externalCliProviderIds: [],
+      externalCliProfileIds: [],
+    };
+  }
+  if (discovery.mode === "existing") {
+    const allowKeychainPrompt = discovery.allowKeychainPrompt ?? options?.allowKeychainPrompt;
+    const config = discovery.config ?? options?.config;
+    return {
+      ...(allowKeychainPrompt !== undefined ? { allowKeychainPrompt } : {}),
+      ...(config ? { config } : {}),
+    };
+  }
+  const allowKeychainPrompt = discovery.allowKeychainPrompt ?? options?.allowKeychainPrompt;
+  const config = discovery.config ?? options?.config;
+  return {
+    ...(allowKeychainPrompt !== undefined ? { allowKeychainPrompt } : {}),
+    ...(config ? { config } : {}),
+    ...(discovery.providerIds ? { externalCliProviderIds: discovery.providerIds } : {}),
+    ...(discovery.profileIds ? { externalCliProfileIds: discovery.profileIds } : {}),
+  };
+}
+
 function shouldKeepProfileInLocalStore(params: {
   store: AuthProfileStore;
   profileId: string;
@@ -384,23 +438,18 @@ export function loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(
   const store = loadAuthProfileStoreForAgent(agentDir, options);
   const authPath = resolveAuthStorePath(agentDir);
   const mainAuthPath = resolveAuthStorePath();
+  const externalCli = resolveExternalCliOverlayOptions(options);
   if (!agentDir || authPath === mainAuthPath) {
     return overlayExternalAuthProfiles(store, {
       agentDir,
-      allowKeychainPrompt: options?.allowKeychainPrompt,
-      config: options?.config,
-      externalCliProviderIds: options?.externalCliProviderIds,
-      externalCliProfileIds: options?.externalCliProfileIds,
+      ...externalCli,
     });
   }
 
   const mainStore = loadAuthProfileStoreForAgent(undefined, options);
   return overlayExternalAuthProfiles(mergeAuthProfileStores(mainStore, store), {
     agentDir,
-    allowKeychainPrompt: options?.allowKeychainPrompt,
-    config: options?.config,
-    externalCliProviderIds: options?.externalCliProviderIds,
-    externalCliProfileIds: options?.externalCliProfileIds,
+    ...externalCli,
   });
 }
 
@@ -426,18 +475,17 @@ export function ensureAuthProfileStore(
   options?: {
     allowKeychainPrompt?: boolean;
     config?: OpenClawConfig;
+    externalCli?: ExternalCliAuthDiscovery;
     externalCliProviderIds?: Iterable<string>;
     externalCliProfileIds?: Iterable<string>;
   },
 ): AuthProfileStore {
+  const externalCli = resolveExternalCliOverlayOptions(options);
   return overlayExternalAuthProfiles(
     ensureAuthProfileStoreWithoutExternalProfiles(agentDir, options),
     {
       agentDir,
-      allowKeychainPrompt: options?.allowKeychainPrompt,
-      config: options?.config,
-      externalCliProviderIds: options?.externalCliProviderIds,
-      externalCliProfileIds: options?.externalCliProfileIds,
+      ...externalCli,
     },
   );
 }
diff --git a/src/agents/cli-runner/prepare.ts b/src/agents/cli-runner/prepare.ts
index 0b3625964f5..a51b76ec9d5 100644
--- a/src/agents/cli-runner/prepare.ts
+++ b/src/agents/cli-runner/prepare.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { getGlobalHookRunner } from "../../plugins/hook-runner-global.js";
 import { annotateInterSessionPromptText } from "../../sessions/input-provenance.js";
 import { resolveOpenClawAgentDir } from "../agent-paths.js";
 import { resolveSessionAgentIds } from "../agent-scope.js";
+import { externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth } from "../auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.js";
 import { loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime } from "../auth-profiles/store.js";
 import type { AuthProfileCredential } from "../auth-profiles/types.js";
 import {
@@ -115,7 +116,10 @@ export async function prepareCliRunContext(
   if (effectiveAuthProfileId) {
     const authStore = loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(agentDir, {
       readOnly: true,
-      allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({
+        provider: params.provider,
+        profileId: effectiveAuthProfileId,
+      }),
     });
     authCredential = authStore.profiles[effectiveAuthProfileId];
   }
diff --git a/src/agents/codex-native-web-search-core.ts b/src/agents/codex-native-web-search-core.ts
index bf79591dde4..bc2a281a591 100644
--- a/src/agents/codex-native-web-search-core.ts
+++ b/src/agents/codex-native-web-search-core.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
 import { isRecord } from "../utils.js";
+import { externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth } from "./auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.js";
 import { listProfilesForProvider } from "./auth-profiles/profile-list.js";
 import { ensureAuthProfileStore } from "./auth-profiles/store.js";
 import {
@@ -56,7 +57,15 @@ export function hasAvailableCodexAuth(params: {
   if (params.agentDir) {
     try {
       if (
-        listProfilesForProvider(ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir), "openai-codex").length > 0
+        listProfilesForProvider(
+          ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
+            externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({
+              cfg: params.config,
+              provider: "openai-codex",
+            }),
+          }),
+          "openai-codex",
+        ).length > 0
       ) {
         return true;
       }
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts b/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
index c0bb602a681..ba1991e6734 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth-label.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { SessionEntry } from "../config/sessions.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
 import {
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   loadAuthProfileStoreWithoutExternalProfiles,
   resolveAuthProfileDisplayLabel,
@@ -28,7 +29,11 @@ export function resolveModelAuthLabel(params: {
     params.includeExternalProfiles === false
       ? loadAuthProfileStoreWithoutExternalProfiles(params.agentDir)
       : ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
-          allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+          externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({
+            cfg: params.cfg,
+            provider: providerKey,
+            preferredProfile: params.sessionEntry?.authProfileOverride,
+          }),
         });
   const profileOverride = params.sessionEntry?.authProfileOverride?.trim();
   const order = resolveAuthProfileOrder({
diff --git a/src/agents/model-auth.ts b/src/agents/model-auth.ts
index 561d5e7da4c..233d748d8de 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-auth.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-auth.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import {
 import { normalizeOptionalSecretInput } from "../utils/normalize-secret-input.js";
 import {
   type AuthProfileStore,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   listProfilesForProvider,
   resolveApiKeyForProfile,
@@ -496,14 +497,8 @@ function resolveScopedAuthProfileStore(params: {
   profileId?: string;
   preferredProfile?: string;
 }): AuthProfileStore {
-  const profileIds = [params.profileId, params.preferredProfile]
-    .map((value) => value?.trim())
-    .filter((value): value is string => Boolean(value));
   return ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
-    config: params.cfg,
-    externalCliProviderIds: [params.provider],
-    ...(profileIds.length > 0 ? { externalCliProfileIds: profileIds } : {}),
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth(params),
   });
 }
 
diff --git a/src/agents/model-fallback.ts b/src/agents/model-fallback.ts
index 402ff4f59fb..905089222e4 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-fallback.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-fallback.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { formatErrorMessage } from "../infra/errors.js";
 import { createSubsystemLogger } from "../logging/subsystem.js";
 import { normalizeOptionalString } from "../shared/string-coerce.js";
 import { sanitizeForLog } from "../terminal/ansi.js";
+import { externalCliDiscoveryForProviders } from "./auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.js";
 import { hasAnyAuthProfileStoreSource } from "./auth-profiles/source-check.js";
 import type { AuthProfileStore } from "./auth-profiles/types.js";
 import { DEFAULT_MODEL, DEFAULT_PROVIDER } from "./defaults.js";
@@ -383,7 +384,10 @@ function resolveFallbackSoonestCooldownExpiry(params: {
   // cooldowns through a separate store instance while the fallback loop runs.
   const refreshedStore = params.authRuntime.loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(params.agentDir, {
     readOnly: true,
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviders({
+      cfg: params.cfg,
+      providers: params.candidates.map((candidate) => candidate.provider),
+    }),
   });
   let soonest: number | null = null;
   for (const candidate of params.candidates) {
@@ -772,7 +776,12 @@ export async function runWithModelFallback<T>(params: {
       ? await loadModelFallbackAuthRuntime()
       : null;
   const authStore = authRuntime
-    ? authRuntime.ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, { allowKeychainPrompt: false })
+    ? authRuntime.ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
+        externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviders({
+          cfg: params.cfg,
+          providers: candidates.map((candidate) => candidate.provider),
+        }),
+      })
     : null;
   const attempts: FallbackAttempt[] = [];
   let lastError: unknown;
diff --git a/src/agents/model-provider-auth.ts b/src/agents/model-provider-auth.ts
index 3ce649988e8..0b4ce41a54d 100644
--- a/src/agents/model-provider-auth.ts
+++ b/src/agents/model-provider-auth.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/types.openclaw.js";
 import {
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   listProfilesForProvider,
   type AuthProfileStore,
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ export function hasAuthForModelProvider(params: {
   const store =
     params.store ??
     ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
-      allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({ cfg: params.cfg, provider }),
     });
   if (listProfilesForProvider(store, provider).length > 0) {
     return true;
@@ -43,9 +44,6 @@ export function createProviderAuthChecker(params: {
   agentDir?: string;
   env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
 }): (provider: string) => boolean {
-  const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(params.agentDir, {
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
-  });
   const authCache = new Map<string, boolean>();
   return (provider: string) => {
     const key = normalizeProviderId(provider);
@@ -59,7 +57,6 @@ export function createProviderAuthChecker(params: {
       workspaceDir: params.workspaceDir,
       agentDir: params.agentDir,
       env: params.env,
-      store,
     });
     authCache.set(key, value);
     return value;
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run.ts
index 13e3008cf69..c179c327596 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
   markAuthProfileGood,
   markAuthProfileUsed,
 } from "../auth-profiles.js";
+import { externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth } from "../auth-profiles/external-cli-discovery.js";
 import {
   resolveSessionKeyForRequest,
   resolveStoredSessionKeyForSessionId,
@@ -509,7 +510,11 @@ export async function runEmbeddedPiAgent(
       const authStore = pluginHarnessOwnsTransport
         ? createEmptyAuthProfileStore()
         : ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
-            allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+            externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({
+              cfg: params.config,
+              provider,
+              preferredProfile: params.authProfileId,
+            }),
           });
       const requestedProfileId = params.authProfileId?.trim();
       const resolvePluginHarnessPreferredProfileId = (): string | undefined => {
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/model-config.helpers.ts b/src/agents/tools/model-config.helpers.ts
index b6f262860d1..5b963bfa76d 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/model-config.helpers.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/model-config.helpers.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
 import type { AgentModelConfig } from "../../config/types.agents-shared.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/types.openclaw.js";
 import {
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   hasAnyAuthProfileStoreSource,
   listProfilesForProvider,
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ export function hasAuthForProvider(params: { provider: string; agentDir?: string
     return false;
   }
   const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({ provider: params.provider }),
   });
   return listProfilesForProvider(store, params.provider).length > 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.model.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.model.test.ts
index afff24efe52..b7f9f77ad41 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.model.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/directive-handling.model.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ vi.mock("../../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
   clearRuntimeAuthProfileStoreSnapshots: () => {
     authProfilesStoreMock.profiles = {};
   },
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth: () => ({
+    mode: "scoped",
+    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+  }),
   ensureAuthProfileStore: () => ({
     version: 1,
     profiles: authProfilesStoreMock.profiles,
@@ -501,6 +505,8 @@ describe("/model chat UX", () => {
     try {
       await withEnvAsync(
         {
+          ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: undefined,
+          ANTHROPIC_OAUTH_TOKEN: undefined,
           OPENCLAW_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR: bundledDir,
           OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir,
           WORKSPACE_MODEL_CREDENTIALS: credentialPath,
diff --git a/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts b/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
index 93ac81c3f96..ccf69d9a2de 100644
--- a/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/model-picker.test.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ const ensureAuthProfileStore = vi.hoisted(() =>
 const listProfilesForProvider = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn(() => []));
 const upsertAuthProfile = vi.hoisted(() => vi.fn());
 vi.mock("../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth: () => ({
+    mode: "scoped",
+    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+  }),
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   listProfilesForProvider,
   upsertAuthProfile,
diff --git a/src/commands/models/auth-order.ts b/src/commands/models/auth-order.ts
index 889110f9616..e7fde099609 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/auth-order.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/auth-order.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { resolveAgentDir, resolveDefaultAgentId } from "../../agents/agent-scope.js";
 import {
   type AuthProfileStore,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   resolveAuthStatePathForDisplay,
   setAuthProfileOrder,
@@ -48,9 +49,9 @@ export async function modelsAuthOrderGetCommand(
   opts: { provider: string; agent?: string; json?: boolean },
   runtime: RuntimeEnv,
 ) {
-  const { agentId, agentDir, provider } = await resolveAuthOrderContext(opts, runtime);
+  const { cfg, agentId, agentDir, provider } = await resolveAuthOrderContext(opts, runtime);
   const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({ cfg, provider }),
   });
   const order = describeOrder(store, provider);
 
@@ -94,10 +95,10 @@ export async function modelsAuthOrderSetCommand(
   opts: { provider: string; agent?: string; order: string[] },
   runtime: RuntimeEnv,
 ) {
-  const { agentId, agentDir, provider } = await resolveAuthOrderContext(opts, runtime);
+  const { cfg, agentId, agentDir, provider } = await resolveAuthOrderContext(opts, runtime);
 
   const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
-    allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({ cfg, provider }),
   });
   const providerKey = provider;
   const requested = normalizeStringEntries(opts.order ?? []);
diff --git a/src/commands/models/auth.test.ts b/src/commands/models/auth.test.ts
index 778e93344f0..c370905a22a 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/auth.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/auth.test.ts
@@ -367,7 +367,13 @@ describe("modelsAuthLoginCommand", () => {
 
     await modelsAuthLoginCommand({ provider: "openai-codex" }, runtime);
 
-    expect(mocks.loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/tmp/openclaw/agents/main");
+    expect(mocks.loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/tmp/openclaw/agents/main", {
+      externalCli: {
+        mode: "scoped",
+        allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+        providerIds: ["openai-codex"],
+      },
+    });
     expect(mocks.clearAuthProfileCooldown).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
       store: fakeStore,
       profileId: "openai-codex:user@example.com",
@@ -418,7 +424,16 @@ describe("modelsAuthLoginCommand", () => {
 
     expect(mocks.resolveDefaultAgentId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(mocks.resolveAgentDir).toHaveBeenCalledWith(originalConfig, "coder");
-    expect(mocks.loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime).toHaveBeenCalledWith("/tmp/openclaw/agents/coder");
+    expect(mocks.loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      "/tmp/openclaw/agents/coder",
+      {
+        externalCli: {
+          mode: "scoped",
+          allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+          providerIds: ["openai-codex"],
+        },
+      },
+    );
     expect(runProviderAuth).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       expect.objectContaining({
         agentDir: "/tmp/openclaw/agents/coder",
diff --git a/src/commands/models/auth.ts b/src/commands/models/auth.ts
index 40a7ccd2351..112aaa5d3ed 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/auth.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/auth.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
   resolveAgentWorkspaceDir,
   resolveDefaultAgentId,
 } from "../../agents/agent-scope.js";
+import { externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { listProfilesForProvider, upsertAuthProfile } from "../../agents/auth-profiles/profiles.js";
 import { loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime } from "../../agents/auth-profiles/store.js";
 import type { AuthProfileCredential } from "../../agents/auth-profiles/types.js";
@@ -559,7 +560,9 @@ type LoginOptions = {
  */
 async function clearStaleProfileLockouts(provider: string, agentDir: string): Promise<void> {
   try {
-    const store = loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(agentDir);
+    const store = loadAuthProfileStoreForRuntime(agentDir, {
+      externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForProviderAuth({ provider }),
+    });
     const profileIds = listProfilesForProvider(store, provider);
     for (const profileId of profileIds) {
       await clearAuthProfileCooldown({ store, profileId, agentDir });
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.probe.targets.test.ts b/src/commands/models/list.probe.targets.test.ts
index 8449b23791e..ddc984dc46b 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.probe.targets.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.probe.targets.test.ts
@@ -74,6 +74,10 @@ vi.mock("./shared.js", () => ({
 }));
 
 vi.mock("../../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
+  externalCliDiscoveryScoped: (params: Record<string, unknown> = {}) => ({
+    mode: "scoped",
+    ...params,
+  }),
   ensureAuthProfileStore: (agentDir?: string) =>
     agentDir === "/tmp/coder-agent" && mockAgentStore ? mockAgentStore : mockStore,
   listProfilesForProvider: (store: AuthProfileStore, provider: string) =>
@@ -400,27 +404,29 @@ describe("buildProbeTargets reason codes", () => {
       order: {},
     };
 
-    const defaultPlan = await buildProbeTargets({
-      cfg: {} as OpenClawConfig,
-      providers: ["anthropic"],
-      modelCandidates: ["anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6"],
-      options: {
-        timeoutMs: 5_000,
-        concurrency: 1,
-        maxTokens: 16,
-      },
-    });
-    const agentPlan = await buildProbeTargets({
-      cfg: {} as OpenClawConfig,
-      agentDir: "/tmp/coder-agent",
-      providers: ["anthropic"],
-      modelCandidates: ["anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6"],
-      options: {
-        timeoutMs: 5_000,
-        concurrency: 1,
-        maxTokens: 16,
-      },
-    });
+    const { defaultPlan, agentPlan } = await withClearedAnthropicEnv(async () => ({
+      defaultPlan: await buildProbeTargets({
+        cfg: {} as OpenClawConfig,
+        providers: ["anthropic"],
+        modelCandidates: ["anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6"],
+        options: {
+          timeoutMs: 5_000,
+          concurrency: 1,
+          maxTokens: 16,
+        },
+      }),
+      agentPlan: await buildProbeTargets({
+        cfg: {} as OpenClawConfig,
+        agentDir: "/tmp/coder-agent",
+        providers: ["anthropic"],
+        modelCandidates: ["anthropic/claude-sonnet-4-6"],
+        options: {
+          timeoutMs: 5_000,
+          concurrency: 1,
+          maxTokens: 16,
+        },
+      }),
+    }));
 
     expect(defaultPlan.targets).toEqual([]);
     expect(agentPlan.results).toEqual([]);
diff --git a/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts b/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
index 1ebd9ae7f65..1bc2a965465 100644
--- a/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
+++ b/src/commands/models/list.probe.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { resolveAgentWorkspaceDir, resolveDefaultAgentId } from "../../agents/ag
 import {
   type AuthProfileCredential,
   type AuthProfileEligibilityReasonCode,
+  externalCliDiscoveryScoped,
   ensureAuthProfileStore,
   listProfilesForProvider,
   resolveAuthProfileDisplayLabel,
@@ -256,7 +257,14 @@ export async function buildProbeTargets(params: {
   options: AuthProbeOptions;
 }): Promise<{ targets: AuthProbeTarget[]; results: AuthProbeResult[] }> {
   const { cfg, agentDir, providers, modelCandidates, options, workspaceDir } = params;
-  const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir);
+  const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
+    externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryScoped({
+      config: cfg,
+      allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+      providerIds: providers,
+      profileIds: options.profileIds,
+    }),
+  });
   const providerFilter = options.provider?.trim();
   const providerFilterKey = providerFilter ? normalizeProviderId(providerFilter) : null;
   const profileFilter = new Set((options.profileIds ?? []).map((id) => id.trim()).filter(Boolean));
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.test.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.test.ts
index 446709a9b64..445578c0286 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.test.ts
@@ -24,9 +24,15 @@ vi.mock("../../agents/agent-paths.js", () => ({
   resolveOpenClawAgentDir: mocks.resolveOpenClawAgentDir,
 }));
 
-vi.mock("../../agents/auth-profiles.js", () => ({
-  ensureAuthProfileStore: mocks.ensureAuthProfileStore,
-}));
+vi.mock("../../agents/auth-profiles.js", async () => {
+  const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("../../agents/auth-profiles.js")>(
+    "../../agents/auth-profiles.js",
+  );
+  return {
+    ...actual,
+    ensureAuthProfileStore: mocks.ensureAuthProfileStore,
+  };
+});
 
 vi.mock("../../agents/auth-health.js", async () => {
   const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("../../agents/auth-health.js")>(
@@ -219,28 +225,31 @@ describe("models.authStatus", () => {
     expect(mocks.ensureAuthProfileStore).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       "/tmp/agent",
       expect.objectContaining({
-        allowKeychainPrompt: false,
-        config: expect.any(Object),
-        externalCliProviderIds: expect.arrayContaining(["opencode-go"]),
-        externalCliProfileIds: ["opencode-go:default"],
+        externalCli: expect.objectContaining({
+          mode: "scoped",
+          allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+          config: expect.any(Object),
+          providerIds: expect.arrayContaining(["opencode-go"]),
+          profileIds: ["opencode-go:default"],
+        }),
       }),
     );
     const [, options] = mocks.ensureAuthProfileStore.mock.calls[0] ?? [];
-    expect((options as { externalCliProviderIds?: string[] }).externalCliProviderIds).not.toContain(
-      "claude-cli",
-    );
+    const externalCli = (options as { externalCli?: { providerIds?: string[] } }).externalCli;
+    expect(externalCli?.providerIds).not.toContain("claude-cli");
   });
 
-  it("keeps the auth store overlay unscoped when config has no provider signal", async () => {
+  it("disables external CLI auth overlays when config has no provider signal", async () => {
     await handler(createOptions());
 
     expect(mocks.ensureAuthProfileStore).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
       "/tmp/agent",
       expect.objectContaining({
-        allowKeychainPrompt: false,
-        config: expect.any(Object),
-        externalCliProviderIds: undefined,
-        externalCliProfileIds: undefined,
+        externalCli: expect.objectContaining({
+          mode: "none",
+          allowKeychainPrompt: false,
+          config: expect.any(Object),
+        }),
       }),
     );
   });
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.ts b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.ts
index 1017bfaed54..e7533872824 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-methods/models-auth-status.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ import {
   buildAuthHealthSummary,
   formatRemainingShort,
 } from "../../agents/auth-health.js";
-import { ensureAuthProfileStore } from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
-import { resolveExternalCliAuthScopeFromConfig } from "../../agents/auth-profiles/external-cli-scope.js";
+import {
+  ensureAuthProfileStore,
+  externalCliDiscoveryForConfigStatus,
+} from "../../agents/auth-profiles.js";
 import { normalizeProviderId } from "../../agents/provider-id.js";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import { isSecretRef } from "../../config/types.secrets.js";
@@ -293,12 +295,8 @@ export const modelsAuthStatusHandlers: GatewayRequestHandlers = {
     try {
       const cfg = context.getRuntimeConfig();
       const agentDir = resolveOpenClawAgentDir();
-      const externalCliAuthScope = resolveExternalCliAuthScopeFromConfig(cfg);
       const store = ensureAuthProfileStore(agentDir, {
-        allowKeychainPrompt: false,
-        config: cfg,
-        externalCliProviderIds: externalCliAuthScope?.providerIds,
-        externalCliProfileIds: externalCliAuthScope?.profileIds,
+        externalCli: externalCliDiscoveryForConfigStatus({ cfg }),
       });
       const configured = resolveConfiguredProviders(cfg);
       const authHealth: AuthHealthSummary = buildAuthHealthSummary({