diff --git a/docs/cli/gateway.md b/docs/cli/gateway.md
index 95c20e3aa7c..96367774948 100644
--- a/docs/cli/gateway.md
+++ b/docs/cli/gateway.md
@@ -126,6 +126,23 @@ openclaw gateway probe
 openclaw gateway probe --json
 ```
 
+Interpretation:
+
+- `Reachable: yes` means at least one target accepted a WebSocket connect.
+- `RPC: ok` means detail RPC calls (`health`/`status`/`system-presence`/`config.get`) also succeeded.
+- `RPC: limited - missing scope: operator.read` means connect succeeded but detail RPC is scope-limited. This is reported as **degraded** reachability, not full failure.
+- Exit code is non-zero only when no probed target is reachable.
+
+JSON notes (`--json`):
+
+- Top level:
+  - `ok`: at least one target is reachable.
+  - `degraded`: at least one target had scope-limited detail RPC.
+- Per target (`targets[].connect`):
+  - `ok`: reachability after connect + degraded classification.
+  - `rpcOk`: full detail RPC success.
+  - `scopeLimited`: detail RPC failed due to missing operator scope.
+
 #### Remote over SSH (Mac app parity)
 
 The macOS app “Remote over SSH” mode uses a local port-forward so the remote gateway (which may be bound to loopback only) becomes reachable at `ws://127.0.0.1:<port>`.
diff --git a/docs/help/troubleshooting.md b/docs/help/troubleshooting.md
index 951e1a480d7..a3988c4ea58 100644
--- a/docs/help/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/help/troubleshooting.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Good output in one line:
 
 - `openclaw status` → shows configured channels and no obvious auth errors.
 - `openclaw status --all` → full report is present and shareable.
-- `openclaw gateway probe` → expected gateway target is reachable.
+- `openclaw gateway probe` → expected gateway target is reachable (`Reachable: yes`). `RPC: limited - missing scope: operator.read` is degraded diagnostics, not a connect failure.
 - `openclaw gateway status` → `Runtime: running` and `RPC probe: ok`.
 - `openclaw doctor` → no blocking config/service errors.
 - `openclaw channels status --probe` → channels report `connected` or `ready`.