fix(web-search): preserve runtime auto-detect fallback

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai
 - Agents/session status: keep semantic `session_status({ sessionKey: "current" })` on the live run session even before that run has a persisted session-store entry, instead of falling back to the sandbox policy key. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - QA/Slack: resolve bundled official plugin public-surface package aliases during source-mode QA runs, so release Slack live validation can load `@openclaw/slack/api.js` without workspace symlinks. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Codex: pass the live run session key into app-server dynamic tools when sandbox policy uses a separate session key, so `session_status({ sessionKey: "current" })` reports the active run instead of the sandbox policy key. Thanks @vincentkoc.
+- Web search: keep first-class assistant `web_search` auto-detect and configured runtime providers visible when active runtime metadata or the active plugin registry is incomplete. Fixes #77073.
 - Plugins/tools: mark manifest-optional sibling tools as optional even when they come from a shared non-optional factory, so cached/status/MCP metadata keeps opt-in tool policy accurate. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Matrix: keep `streaming.progress.toolProgress` scoped to progress draft mode, so partial and quiet Matrix previews do not lose tool progress unless `streaming.preview.toolProgress` is disabled. Thanks @vincentkoc.
 - Channels/streaming: keep `streaming.progress.toolProgress` scoped to progress draft mode, so disabling compact progress lines does not silence partial/block preview tool updates. Thanks @vincentkoc.

src/agents/tools/web-search.late-bind.test.ts

@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe("web_search late-bound runtime fallback", () => {
       runtimeWebSearch: {
         selectedProvider: "brave",
         providerConfigured: "brave",
-        providerSource: "plugin",
+        providerSource: "configured",
         diagnostics: [],
       },
     });
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ describe("web_search late-bound runtime fallback", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it("does not prefer runtime providers when no provider id is selected anywhere", async () => {
+  it("keeps runtime provider discovery enabled when no provider id is selected anywhere", async () => {
     const { createWebSearchTool } = await import("./web-search.js");
     const tool = createWebSearchTool({
       config: {},
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ describe("web_search late-bound runtime fallback", () => {
 
     expect(mocks.resolveManifestContractOwnerPluginId).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(mocks.runWebSearch).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.objectContaining({ preferRuntimeProviders: false }),
+      expect.objectContaining({ preferRuntimeProviders: true }),
     );
   });
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ describe("web_search late-bound runtime fallback", () => {
       search: {
         selectedProvider: "perplexity",
         providerConfigured: "perplexity",
-        providerSource: "plugin",
+        providerSource: "configured",
         diagnostics: [],
       },
     });
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ describe("web_search late-bound runtime fallback", () => {
       runtimeWebSearch: {
         selectedProvider: "brave",
         providerConfigured: "brave",
-        providerSource: "plugin",
+        providerSource: "configured",
         diagnostics: [],
       },
     });

src/agents/tools/web-search.ts

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ export function createWebSearchTool(options?: {
           : "";
       const providerSelectionId = runtimeProviderId || configuredProviderId;
       const preferRuntimeProviders =
-        Boolean(providerSelectionId) &&
+        !providerSelectionId ||
         !resolveManifestContractOwnerPluginId({
           contract: "webSearchProviders",
           value: providerSelectionId,