diff --git a/.github/docker/Dockerfile.ci b/.github/docker/Dockerfile.ci
index ebf4a4d13..2be739d4d 100644
--- a/.github/docker/Dockerfile.ci
+++ b/.github/docker/Dockerfile.ci
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ RUN curl --retry 5 --retry-delay 5 --retry-connrefused -fsSL https://bun.sh/inst
 RUN npm i -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
 
 # Playwright system deps (Chromium) — needed for browse E2E tests
-RUN npx playwright install-deps chromium
+RUN npx playwright-core install-deps chromium
 
 # Linux has neither Helvetica nor Arial. make-pdf's print CSS stacks fall back
 # to Liberation Sans (metric-compatible Arial clone, SIL OFL 1.1) so PDFs don't
-# render in DejaVu Sans. playwright install-deps happens to pull this in today,
+# render in DejaVu Sans. playwright-core install-deps happens to pull this in today,
 # but the dep is implicit and could change — install explicitly so upgrades
 # can't silently regress rendering.
 #
@@ -100,12 +100,12 @@ RUN bun install --frozen-lockfile && rm -rf /tmp/*
 
 # Install Playwright Chromium to a shared location accessible by all users
 ENV PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=/opt/playwright-browsers
-RUN npx playwright install chromium \
+RUN npx playwright-core install chromium \
     && chmod -R a+rX /opt/playwright-browsers
 
 # Verify everything works
 RUN bun --version && node --version && claude --version && jq --version && gh --version \
-    && npx playwright --version \
+    && npx playwright-core --version \
     && fc-match "Liberation Sans" | grep -qi "Liberation" \
         || (echo "ERROR: fonts-liberation not installed — make-pdf PDFs will render in DejaVu Sans" && exit 1)
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/make-pdf-gate.yml b/.github/workflows/make-pdf-gate.yml
index 9a3d13538..69c4d7eb1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/make-pdf-gate.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/make-pdf-gate.yml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
           fc-match -f '%{family[0]}\t%{color}\n' ':lang=und-zsye:charset=1F600' || true
 
       - name: Install Playwright Chromium
-        run: bunx playwright install chromium
+        run: bunx playwright-core install chromium
 
       - name: Build binaries
         run: bun run build
diff --git a/browse/src/browser-manager.ts b/browse/src/browser-manager.ts
index b8c56f7ca..5cdfbb8ec 100644
--- a/browse/src/browser-manager.ts
+++ b/browse/src/browser-manager.ts
@@ -382,6 +382,7 @@ export class BrowserManager {
     // BROWSE_EXTENSIONS_DIR points to an unpacked Chrome extension directory.
     // Extensions only work in headed mode, so we use an off-screen window.
     const extensionsDir = process.env.BROWSE_EXTENSIONS_DIR;
+    if (extensionsDir) assertHeadedBrowserProvider();
     const { STEALTH_LAUNCH_ARGS, buildGStackLaunchArgs } = await import('./stealth');
     const launchArgs: string[] = [...STEALTH_LAUNCH_ARGS, ...buildGStackLaunchArgs()];
     let useHeadless = true;
@@ -1587,6 +1588,7 @@ export class BrowserManager {
    *   If step 2 fails → return error, headless browser untouched
    */
   async handoff(message: string): Promise<string> {
+    assertHeadedBrowserProvider();
     if (this.connectionMode === 'headed' || this.isHeaded) {
       return `HANDOFF: Already in headed mode at ${this.getCurrentUrl()}`;
     }
diff --git a/browse/src/cli.ts b/browse/src/cli.ts
index dee7b642f..93e4f17da 100644
--- a/browse/src/cli.ts
+++ b/browse/src/cli.ts
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ interface ServerState {
   serverPath: string;
   binaryVersion?: string;
   mode?: 'launched' | 'headed';
-  /** Hash of (proxyUrl + headed flag), used by D2 daemon-mismatch check. */
+  /** Hash of proxy, headed mode, and browser-provider intent, used by daemon-mismatch checks. */
   configHash?: string;
   /** Xvfb child PID for cleanup on disconnect. */
   xvfbPid?: number;
@@ -431,8 +431,8 @@ async function ensureServer(flags?: GlobalFlags): Promise<ServerState> {
     // hint. No silent restart — that would drop tab state, cookies, and
     // logged-in sessions without warning.
     if (desiredHash && state.configHash && state.configHash !== desiredHash) {
-      console.error(`[browse] existing daemon has different config (proxy/headed mismatch).`);
-      console.error(`[browse] run 'browse disconnect' first to apply --proxy/--headed.`);
+      console.error(`[browse] existing daemon has different config (browser provider, proxy, or headed mode).`);
+      console.error(`[browse] run 'browse disconnect' first to apply the selected browser configuration.`);
       process.exit(1);
     }
     // Same path: existing daemon is plain (no flags) but caller passes
@@ -782,7 +782,7 @@ export interface GlobalFlags {
   proxyUrl: string | null;
   /** Whether --headed was passed. */
   headed: boolean;
-  /** Hash of (proxy + headed) for daemon-mismatch check. */
+  /** Hash of proxy, headed mode, and browser-provider intent for daemon-mismatch checks. */
   configHash: string;
   /** Redacted form of proxyUrl, safe for logs. */
   redactedProxyUrl: string;
@@ -842,7 +842,12 @@ export function extractGlobalFlags(rawArgs: string[], env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): G
     args: out,
     proxyUrl: canonicalProxyUrl,
     headed,
-    configHash: computeConfigHash({ proxyUrl: canonicalProxyUrl, headed }),
+    configHash: computeConfigHash({
+      proxyUrl: canonicalProxyUrl,
+      headed,
+      browserProvider: env.GSTACK_BROWSER_PROVIDER,
+      browserExecutable: env.GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH,
+    }),
     redactedProxyUrl: redactProxyUrl(canonicalProxyUrl),
   };
 }
diff --git a/browse/src/proxy-config.ts b/browse/src/proxy-config.ts
index 161475825..e03f0f318 100644
--- a/browse/src/proxy-config.ts
+++ b/browse/src/proxy-config.ts
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ export function toUpstreamConfig(cfg: ParsedProxyConfig): UpstreamConfig {
 }
 
 /**
- * Compute a stable hash of (proxyUrl + headed flag) for daemon-mismatch
+ * Compute a stable hash of proxy, headed mode, and browser-provider intent for daemon-mismatch
  * detection (D2). The hash is deterministic across CLI invocations on the
  * same machine and survives daemon restarts via the state file.
  *
@@ -135,9 +135,18 @@ export function toUpstreamConfig(cfg: ParsedProxyConfig): UpstreamConfig {
 export function computeConfigHash(opts: {
   proxyUrl: string | null | undefined;
   headed: boolean;
+  browserProvider?: string | null;
+  browserExecutable?: string | null;
 }): string {
   const proxyKey = canonicalizeProxyUrl(opts.proxyUrl);
-  const input = JSON.stringify({ proxy: proxyKey, headed: opts.headed });
+  const browserProvider = opts.browserProvider || null;
+  const browserExecutable = browserProvider === "installed" ? opts.browserExecutable || null : null;
+  const input = JSON.stringify({
+    proxy: proxyKey,
+    headed: opts.headed,
+    browserProvider,
+    browserExecutable,
+  });
   return createHash('sha256').update(input).digest('hex').slice(0, 16);
 }
 
diff --git a/browse/src/write-commands.ts b/browse/src/write-commands.ts
index 4a847141d..626ba8794 100644
--- a/browse/src/write-commands.ts
+++ b/browse/src/write-commands.ts
@@ -355,11 +355,18 @@ export async function handleWriteCommand(
         }
       } catch (err: any) {
         // Enhanced error guidance: clicking <option> elements always fails (not visible / timeout)
-        const isOption = 'locator' in resolved
-          ? await resolved.locator.evaluate(el => el.tagName === 'OPTION').catch(() => false)
-          : await target.locator(resolved.selector).evaluate(
-              el => el.tagName === 'OPTION'
-            ).catch(() => false);
+        // Do not start a second auto-wait after the click has already timed out.
+        // Missing selectors used to spend 5s in click(), then block again in
+        // evaluate() until the outer client killed the command. count() is an
+        // immediate query and keeps the helpful option guidance only when one
+        // unique element actually exists.
+        const optionLocator = 'locator' in resolved
+          ? resolved.locator
+          : target.locator(resolved.selector);
+        const optionCount = await optionLocator.count().catch(() => 0);
+        const isOption = optionCount === 1
+          ? await optionLocator.evaluate(el => el.tagName === 'OPTION').catch(() => false)
+          : false;
         if (isOption) {
           throw new Error(
             `Cannot click <option> elements. Use 'browse select <parent-select> <value>' instead of 'click' for dropdown options.`
diff --git a/browse/test/commands.test.ts b/browse/test/commands.test.ts
index 8bba8a9bd..7854c49eb 100644
--- a/browse/test/commands.test.ts
+++ b/browse/test/commands.test.ts
@@ -478,6 +478,20 @@ describe('Interaction', () => {
     }
   }, 15000);
 
+  test('click on a missing selector does not start a second locator wait', async () => {
+    await handleWriteCommand('goto', [baseUrl + '/basic.html'], bm);
+    const started = performance.now();
+    try {
+      await handleWriteCommand('click', ['#definitely-missing-regression-node'], bm);
+      expect(true).toBe(false); // Should not reach here
+    } catch (err: any) {
+      expect(err.message).toContain('#definitely-missing-regression-node');
+    }
+    // click() intentionally retains Playwright's 5s auto-wait. The regression
+    // was a second default locator wait that pushed the total beyond 8s.
+    expect(performance.now() - started).toBeLessThan(6500);
+  }, 8000);
+
   test('hover works', async () => {
     const result = await handleWriteCommand('hover', ['h1'], bm);
     expect(result).toContain('Hovered');
diff --git a/browse/test/daemon-mismatch-refuse.test.ts b/browse/test/daemon-mismatch-refuse.test.ts
index b36ab64e3..893e45be6 100644
--- a/browse/test/daemon-mismatch-refuse.test.ts
+++ b/browse/test/daemon-mismatch-refuse.test.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,47 @@ describe('D2 daemon-mismatch refuse (CLI integration)', () => {
     }
   }, 15000);
 
+  test('refuses to reuse a same-version daemon from a different browser provider', async () => {
+    const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'browse-provider-mismatch-'));
+    const stateFile = path.join(tmpDir, 'browse.json');
+    const fakeServer = await startFakeHealthServer('fake-token');
+    const { computeConfigHash } = await import('../src/proxy-config');
+    const managedHash = computeConfigHash({
+      proxyUrl: null,
+      headed: false,
+      browserProvider: 'managed',
+    });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(stateFile, JSON.stringify({
+      pid: process.pid,
+      port: fakeServer.port,
+      token: 'fake-token',
+      startedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
+      serverPath: '',
+      mode: 'launched',
+      configHash: managedHash,
+    }, null, 2));
+
+    const cliEnv: Record<string, string> = {};
+    for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(process.env)) {
+      if (value !== undefined) cliEnv[key] = value;
+    }
+    cliEnv.BROWSE_STATE_FILE = stateFile;
+    cliEnv.GSTACK_BROWSER_PROVIDER = 'installed';
+    cliEnv.GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH = process.execPath;
+
+    try {
+      const result = await runCli(['status'], cliEnv);
+      expect(result.code).toBe(1);
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('different config');
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain('browse disconnect');
+    } finally {
+      await fakeServer.close();
+      try { fs.unlinkSync(stateFile); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+      fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  }, 15000);
+
   test('refuses when existing plain daemon meets a --proxy invocation', async () => {
     const tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'browse-mismatch-plain-'));
     const stateFile = path.join(tmpDir, 'browse.json');
diff --git a/browse/test/proxy-config.test.ts b/browse/test/proxy-config.test.ts
index 88b4cf633..0cf7f0fd0 100644
--- a/browse/test/proxy-config.test.ts
+++ b/browse/test/proxy-config.test.ts
@@ -186,4 +186,20 @@ describe('extractGlobalFlags', () => {
     );
     expect(a.configHash).not.toBe(b.configHash);
   });
+
+  test('configHash changes with browser provider and installed executable', () => {
+    const managed = extractGlobalFlags(['goto', 'x'], {
+      GSTACK_BROWSER_PROVIDER: 'managed',
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv);
+    const installedA = extractGlobalFlags(['goto', 'x'], {
+      GSTACK_BROWSER_PROVIDER: 'installed',
+      GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH: '/browser/a',
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv);
+    const installedB = extractGlobalFlags(['goto', 'x'], {
+      GSTACK_BROWSER_PROVIDER: 'installed',
+      GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH: '/browser/b',
+    } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv);
+    expect(managed.configHash).not.toBe(installedA.configHash);
+    expect(installedA.configHash).not.toBe(installedB.configHash);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/docs/gstack-2/JUDGMENT-PROVENANCE.json b/docs/gstack-2/JUDGMENT-PROVENANCE.json
index 75310112f..78ff9576a 100644
--- a/docs/gstack-2/JUDGMENT-PROVENANCE.json
+++ b/docs/gstack-2/JUDGMENT-PROVENANCE.json
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
       "source_path": "office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "8568fe73cca76a80805fab3092cacd10db7e1d7f",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba",
       "target": "skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-consultation/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "64af56ecdbd132cb7c28344e8e4ecb2e5dacf811",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1591,7 +1591,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "3cdec9a14d62d2e046ed924c972efc30a7d43aca",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "40682d97ac83aa9178487348d5abf176334fd439e2d12f8e5cda1f8b20cd2c30",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "775dfc9fdcc6b96d6e267f2b8c5e7eedcf8a1d98b764c134d7111a39f3f07301",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1820,7 +1820,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "bdcda48e29b489a1cc49faa333922412251d4b41",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@
       "source_path": "qa/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "11997f7b878282c34b6bfd3d4b7a8131f9ad4da8",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2288,7 +2288,7 @@
       "source_path": "qa-only/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "75c4123cc5c406ffdd36c71a094335c137135b1e",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2466,7 +2466,7 @@
       "source_path": "devex-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "081d4f35bbdec0c6b3da8ae71615ec4d41a84551",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "4a907c759b6cf4202fbacaea504b1eb601a53dd35b206109d6c5105168ade7e1",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "6b26b22ae5cbe9483a10ad084cd6b1e8ea32d2c01e482f75b9f8b32944287d0e",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2565,7 +2565,7 @@
       "source_path": "benchmark/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "038f16f5fba4ae4e9eae922e3276bba8ef88149e",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "05ac1b123a605201546a7e95899a5b55708ca7fbb7569c58b4d755c52b45a92d",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "5fd14a7da7e31c24451c26d9123fcbcc376b7875c1a723bf7b69a1474e4f1c6d",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2631,7 +2631,7 @@
       "source_path": "canary/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "89be5f218da2bd812303c87b8c177081727727e5e0d2dc74eb7a73299794d5ef",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "b7f753ba0b98d8c7378dc797dca5950b14ebe26565bac25b5bbaa56b8ea8e13b",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2710,7 +2710,7 @@
       "source_path": "browse/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "9a159e4c9820172c229e2174d4a62a8f9668ab93",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "1b532bd904b1fa1686113e8c96b70015ea6b2e6df7319a72c299de901fe5e81b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "fee4ae0bd69412a6c3b1fd6737064301240b39731695b53fa10096ba48495019",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2798,7 +2798,7 @@
       "source_path": "open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "ef91a527890a3ac3622cc7dc84bad1ff7b64443b",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "e6e8271ecd89761627e6e67745750b22e64596d0e51e4a2350dccd8e2ce8ebd6",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "f32ab85292ae920d811f4014480c48941d9b34d3ad8141840b4fd33bfdccc7dd",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2873,7 +2873,7 @@
       "source_path": "setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "f812d9f56f27c32fb5f102083bbe418344c1a652",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "7d539b2113f8cc9bf0b8b2f6e1da3dde7028176a6f71de8f47de0a98c45663e8",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "9e8ee39b557d1fbd032a94f5fbe16b675bdd89fe64b1c85a9af6a2ebe54aa976",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2934,7 +2934,7 @@
       "source_path": "pair-agent/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "75ed42d590f99c46cd0883c37bb1f2f9f499211c",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "256fd576911cc286ddd2510daec8f4c68501cc5534f46edc044c1908574ac64a",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "e75661246495412102632a49d626bc313875ef479d2c570002ec66a2ccd2757a",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -4136,7 +4136,7 @@
       "source_path": "land-and-deploy/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "98976ad020d541d251cc7e34802a13458ddc88e2",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "6920f3d97ce474b8f20c8b3e38ca9d3c03973e47af33103a60bab7c02eb867bd",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "405924730c4e328c1a45de26576cda686d0d7da1fc4a36e840458683e1396aa2",
       "target": "skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -5775,7 +5775,7 @@
       "owner_tree": "qa",
       "consumer_tree": "ship",
       "target": "skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md",
-      "sha256": "9fcf4fdea7d52113c8f5b5cc81c1fb36df591cf9e07bcc38c4ee106b15245997",
+      "sha256": "155174e829ef7895707ff1fad1f130fc1c7150bad9fb3598428a2efc939c5ad6",
       "disposition": "SHARED_MODULE"
     },
     {
diff --git a/docs/gstack-2/RELEASE-INTEGRITY.md b/docs/gstack-2/RELEASE-INTEGRITY.md
index e8d12a94d..f39cba596 100644
--- a/docs/gstack-2/RELEASE-INTEGRITY.md
+++ b/docs/gstack-2/RELEASE-INTEGRITY.md
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ manifest contains only official GitHub Release URLs and the fixed workflow
 certificate identity.
 
 Browser-capable archives include the Playwright-managed Chromium directory at
-`.gstack-runtime-browsers`. The builder runs `playwright install chromium`
+`.gstack-runtime-browsers`. The builder runs `playwright-core install chromium`
 only—never `--with-deps` or `sudo`—copies physical files into the immutable
 slot, and launch-smokes that exact Chromium on every native release runner.
 The stable capability launcher sets `PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH` to the active
diff --git a/docs/gstack-2/STATUS.md b/docs/gstack-2/STATUS.md
index dfea931c5..0a3d690ab 100644
--- a/docs/gstack-2/STATUS.md
+++ b/docs/gstack-2/STATUS.md
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ PR, or PR-ready claim is authorized by this status.
   three retained Claude Haiku live samples are classified `REGRESSION`; they
   are preserved as noisy supplemental evidence, never cherry-picked as a
   primary gate or represented as green.
-- [x] The current macOS GStack 2 suite is green: 151 pass / 0 fail and 1,194
-  assertions across 16 files.
+- [x] The current macOS GStack 2 suite is green: 218 pass / 0 fail and 2,229
+  assertions across 20 files.
 - [x] Optional host-neutral runtime implemented with canonical paths,
   repo/worktree state identity, locks, atomic writes, effect claims,
   doctor/config/state/cleanup, migrations, upgrade/rollback, and uninstall.
-- [x] Managed runtime installer coverage is green at 25 pass / 0 fail and 341
-  assertions. The deterministic clean macOS arm64 managed-bundle audit records
+- [x] Managed runtime installer coverage is green at 34 pass / 0 fail. The
+  deterministic clean macOS arm64 managed-bundle audit records
   110 components, 1,829 files, 450,044,315 bytes, and 50 capability launchers.
   This is a platform-specific bundle measurement, not a universal byte count;
   platform-native package payloads differ. Setup installs frozen
@@ -75,6 +75,18 @@ PR, or PR-ready claim is authorized by this status.
   production-only install with the development SDK absent, completed a local
   browser journey and Sharp full-page screenshot, and uninstalled while
   preserving state.
+- [x] Browser-backed setup now fails closed until the user explicitly chooses
+  GStack-managed Chromium or one detected installed Chromium executable. The
+  local-only options step performs no network or state mutation; the signed
+  preview reports exact incremental bytes before a separate install approval;
+  only a successful install persists the host-neutral choice. Installed-browser
+  mode keeps the Playwright adapter while omitting managed Chromium payloads.
+  Visible extension-bearing GStack Browser remains managed-only. Focused setup
+  UX coverage is green at 22 pass / 0 fail, including no-network refusal,
+  provider-aware component planning, launcher propagation, and doctor launch.
+  The official live bootstrap remains pending until the corresponding signed
+  `v2.0.0-rc.6` component release is published; deterministic local evidence
+  does not relabel that production gate as passed.
 - [x] The current candidate additionally captures a runtime-owned Bun 1.3.14
   executable under `.gstack-runtime-tools`, records its path/version in the
   bundle manifest, vendors the tagged license/source notices, and routes the
diff --git a/docs/gstack-2/TEST-EVIDENCE.md b/docs/gstack-2/TEST-EVIDENCE.md
index d1f8efbed..9439afa66 100644
--- a/docs/gstack-2/TEST-EVIDENCE.md
+++ b/docs/gstack-2/TEST-EVIDENCE.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pass from deterministic, offline, or filesystem-only evidence.
 | Command / probe | Observed result | What it proves / does not prove |
 |---|---|---|
 | Earlier focused macOS `bun test test/gstack2-*.test.ts` candidate run | **Exit 0: 136 pass / 0 fail**, 1,128 assertions across 15 files. Log: `/tmp/gstack2-test-command-candidate-final2.log`. | Historical focused checkpoint retained rather than overwritten. |
-| Current macOS `bun run test:gstack2` | **Exit 0: 151 pass / 0 fail**, 1,194 assertions across 16 files. | Current generated freshness, routing, runtime, privacy, installer, upgrade, parity, and adversarial-harness surface is green. Native and broad evidence are recorded separately; this working-tree result is not attributed to the earlier native-CI commit. |
+| Current macOS direct `bun test --timeout 60000 test/gstack2-*.test.ts` | **Exit 0: 218 pass / 0 fail**, 2,229 assertions across 20 files. | Current routing, runtime, privacy, installer, upgrade, parity, browser-provider setup, and adversarial-harness surface is green. The `test:gstack2` wrapper's generated-cleanliness precheck remains a commit-time gate, so this row records the direct underlying suite rather than relabeling that wrapper. |
 | `bun test --timeout 30000 test/gstack2-skills.test.ts test/gstack2-skills-routing.test.ts` after regeneration | **Exit 0: 3 pass / 0 fail**, 81 assertions. | The pinned corpus/parity test and both 25-scenario structured-routing tests are green. This remains structural/fixture evidence, not specialist live execution. |
 | `bun run scripts/gstack2/run-parity.ts`, 2026-07-17 rerun | **Exit 0: 4,681 checks passed**; 55 modules, 16 sections, 25 scenarios, 16 regressions, 78 assets. | Current source/render/provenance/contract/asset/fixture parity is green. It is deterministic parity, not live-host behavior. |
 | Earlier regenerated structural parity checkpoint | **Exit 0: 2,403 checks passed** with the then-current 55/16/25/16/45 inventory. | Historical candidate checkpoint before later thin-prelude and asset coverage; superseded by the current 4,681-check rerun. |
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ pass from deterministic, offline, or filesystem-only evidence.
 | `gstack context smoke --url https://www.context.dev --json` | **PASS:** the official `/web/scrape/markdown` endpoint returned `ok: true` and credit metadata. | The verified key entered through protected stdin/environment worked. The temporary secrets file was mode `0600`, the isolated home was removed, and the safe output did not contain the key. Committed redacted artifact: [`evals/context-dev/live-smoke-2026-07-17.json`](../../evals/context-dev/live-smoke-2026-07-17.json). |
 | Standard installer matrix | **PASS: 510/510 checks**, 18 install cases, two removal cases, `skills` CLI 1.5.19. | Project/global installs pass for seven hosts, including Kimi Code CLI through the standard `.agents/skills` path; selected-skill and opt-in compatibility-alias cases, copies, and hashes pass. This remains installer/filesystem evidence. Committed artifact: [`evals/installation/install-matrix.json`](../../evals/installation/install-matrix.json). |
 | Standard Agent Skills install + actual runtime-absent Codex invocation | **PASS.** Root `--list` returned exactly six. The selected source was `time-attack/gstack/skills --skill qa`; despite `skills` 1.5.19's pre-filter display counting hidden aliases, exactly one skill (`qa`) installed byte-identically. Codex exited 0 with `gstack` absent, reported `NEEDS_SETUP` and one approval prompt, changed no files, and created no runtime/browser/external-service activity. | Closes the actual-host runtime-absent judgment gate for Codex without overstating seven-host UI coverage. Artifact: [`standard-codex-runtime-absent-2026-07-17.json`](../../evals/installation/standard-codex-runtime-absent-2026-07-17.json). |
-| `bun test test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts` | **Exit 0: 25 pass / 0 fail**, 341 assertions. | Managed allowlist, hashes, spaces, source/internal-link rejection, production-only frozen dependencies, deterministic exact Sharp/ngrok platform closure, native-load rollback smoke, rollback/recovery, stable launchers, wrapper neutrality, and state-preserving uninstall pass. |
+| `bun test --timeout 30000 test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts` | **Exit 0: 41 pass / 0 fail.** | Managed allowlist, hashes, spaces, source/internal-link rejection, production-only frozen dependencies, deterministic exact Sharp/ngrok platform closure, native-load rollback smoke, atomic browser-choice rollback/recovery, provider-aware stable launchers, wrapper neutrality, and state-preserving uninstall pass. |
+| `bun test --timeout 30000 test/gstack2-runtime-setup-ux.test.ts` | **Exit 0: 29 pass / 0 fail.** | Explicit managed/installed/later browser selection fails closed before network, local options do not mutate, signed previews remain provider-identical across same- and cross-release capability additions, developer-source provider switches replace the exact retained set, visible extension Chromium remains managed-only, and launcher/doctor paths honor the persisted selection. This is deterministic local evidence, not native Windows or every installed Chrome-family build. |
 | Deterministic clean macOS arm64 managed runtime bundle audit | **110 components, 1,829 files, 450,044,315 bytes, 50 capability launchers.** | This is a platform-specific bundle measurement, not a universal byte count; platform-native package payloads differ. Setup includes the Sharp/ngrok closure and excludes the development-only Claude Agent SDK. The Hugging Face sidecar is outside the bundle and its package is development-only, so production setup installs neither its inference runtime nor model weights; the L4 capability reports unavailable. The standard skill installer remains Markdown-only. Committed artifact: [`evals/runtime-bundle/darwin-arm64.json`](../../evals/runtime-bundle/darwin-arm64.json); reproduce with `bun run scripts/gstack2/audit-runtime-bundle.ts --output evals/runtime-bundle/darwin-arm64.json`. |
 | Earlier declared Linux Dev Container plus `bun run test:gstack2` inside it | **Exit 0: 136 pass / 0 fail, 1,127 assertions across 15 files.** Log: `/tmp/gstack2-devcontainer-gate-candidate-final4.log`. | Historical container checkpoint retained rather than overwritten; the current 150-test container result is recorded in the native-CI row below. |
 | `scripts/gstack2/runtime-install-smoke.sh` in the clean Linux arm64 container | **Pass:** production-only frozen dependencies installed with the development Agent SDK and Hugging Face/ONNX runtime absent; the managed Anthropic SDK, Sharp, and ngrok imports passed; prebuilt capabilities rebuilt; setup/doctor/version/design/PDF passed; a local-browser journey and Sharp full-page screenshot passed; uninstall preserved state. | Proves a source copy with spaces can build and complete the managed runtime lifecycle without Git history, an executable local-model stack, or Darwin-only iOS artifacts. It is not native Windows evidence. |
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/benchmark.json b/evals/parity/contracts/benchmark.json
index 16996315e..0a7a74364 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/benchmark.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/benchmark.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "benchmark/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "038f16f5fba4ae4e9eae922e3276bba8ef88149e",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "05ac1b123a605201546a7e95899a5b55708ca7fbb7569c58b4d755c52b45a92d",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "5fd14a7da7e31c24451c26d9123fcbcc376b7875c1a723bf7b69a1474e4f1c6d",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md",
   "overlays": [
     679
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/browse.json b/evals/parity/contracts/browse.json
index e80e4ce29..c5740bcb9 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/browse.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/browse.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "browse/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "9a159e4c9820172c229e2174d4a62a8f9668ab93",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "1b532bd904b1fa1686113e8c96b70015ea6b2e6df7319a72c299de901fe5e81b",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "fee4ae0bd69412a6c3b1fd6737064301240b39731695b53fa10096ba48495019",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/canary.json b/evals/parity/contracts/canary.json
index 5579bf385..aa14eec7e 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/canary.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/canary.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "canary/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "89be5f218da2bd812303c87b8c177081727727e5e0d2dc74eb7a73299794d5ef",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "b7f753ba0b98d8c7378dc797dca5950b14ebe26565bac25b5bbaa56b8ea8e13b",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/design-consultation.json b/evals/parity/contracts/design-consultation.json
index 606f77ba9..04b00a72c 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/design-consultation.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/design-consultation.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "design-consultation/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "64af56ecdbd132cb7c28344e8e4ecb2e5dacf811",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
   "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/design-html.json b/evals/parity/contracts/design-html.json
index c05165088..40a82a8d8 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/design-html.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/design-html.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "3cdec9a14d62d2e046ed924c972efc30a7d43aca",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "40682d97ac83aa9178487348d5abf176334fd439e2d12f8e5cda1f8b20cd2c30",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "775dfc9fdcc6b96d6e267f2b8c5e7eedcf8a1d98b764c134d7111a39f3f07301",
   "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md",
   "overlays": [
     679
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/design-review.json b/evals/parity/contracts/design-review.json
index fef3393ab..a46bb0d3c 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/design-review.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/design-review.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "design-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "bdcda48e29b489a1cc49faa333922412251d4b41",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
   "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/devex-review.json b/evals/parity/contracts/devex-review.json
index a262e3669..88ee46fda 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/devex-review.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/devex-review.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "devex-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "081d4f35bbdec0c6b3da8ae71615ec4d41a84551",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "4a907c759b6cf4202fbacaea504b1eb601a53dd35b206109d6c5105168ade7e1",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "6b26b22ae5cbe9483a10ad084cd6b1e8ea32d2c01e482f75b9f8b32944287d0e",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/land-and-deploy.json b/evals/parity/contracts/land-and-deploy.json
index 31b6785fa..425f53633 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/land-and-deploy.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/land-and-deploy.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "land-and-deploy/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "98976ad020d541d251cc7e34802a13458ddc88e2",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "6920f3d97ce474b8f20c8b3e38ca9d3c03973e47af33103a60bab7c02eb867bd",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "405924730c4e328c1a45de26576cda686d0d7da1fc4a36e840458683e1396aa2",
   "target": "skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/office-hours.json b/evals/parity/contracts/office-hours.json
index c425dddd4..0d26672ea 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/office-hours.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/office-hours.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "8568fe73cca76a80805fab3092cacd10db7e1d7f",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba",
   "target": "skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/open-gstack-browser.json b/evals/parity/contracts/open-gstack-browser.json
index 91103ae3e..7de07b989 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/open-gstack-browser.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/open-gstack-browser.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "ef91a527890a3ac3622cc7dc84bad1ff7b64443b",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "e6e8271ecd89761627e6e67745750b22e64596d0e51e4a2350dccd8e2ce8ebd6",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "f32ab85292ae920d811f4014480c48941d9b34d3ad8141840b4fd33bfdccc7dd",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md",
   "overlays": [
     679
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/pair-agent.json b/evals/parity/contracts/pair-agent.json
index 7ae3a8729..203169a96 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/pair-agent.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/pair-agent.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "pair-agent/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "75ed42d590f99c46cd0883c37bb1f2f9f499211c",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "256fd576911cc286ddd2510daec8f4c68501cc5534f46edc044c1908574ac64a",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "e75661246495412102632a49d626bc313875ef479d2c570002ec66a2ccd2757a",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md",
   "overlays": [
     679
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/qa-only.json b/evals/parity/contracts/qa-only.json
index 6221b0169..cae06687d 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/qa-only.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/qa-only.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "qa-only/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "75c4123cc5c406ffdd36c71a094335c137135b1e",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/qa.json b/evals/parity/contracts/qa.json
index e00d3e760..b183a5da2 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/qa.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/qa.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "qa/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "11997f7b878282c34b6bfd3d4b7a8131f9ad4da8",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md",
   "overlays": [
     679,
diff --git a/evals/parity/contracts/setup-browser-cookies.json b/evals/parity/contracts/setup-browser-cookies.json
index e5737d6ca..a84b81a09 100644
--- a/evals/parity/contracts/setup-browser-cookies.json
+++ b/evals/parity/contracts/setup-browser-cookies.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
   "source_path": "setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md.tmpl",
   "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
   "blob_sha": "f812d9f56f27c32fb5f102083bbe418344c1a652",
-  "normalized_render_sha256": "7d539b2113f8cc9bf0b8b2f6e1da3dde7028176a6f71de8f47de0a98c45663e8",
+  "normalized_render_sha256": "9e8ee39b557d1fbd032a94f5fbe16b675bdd89fe64b1c85a9af6a2ebe54aa976",
   "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md",
   "overlays": [
     679
diff --git a/evals/parity/manifest.json b/evals/parity/manifest.json
index 75310112f..78ff9576a 100644
--- a/evals/parity/manifest.json
+++ b/evals/parity/manifest.json
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
       "source_path": "office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "8568fe73cca76a80805fab3092cacd10db7e1d7f",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba",
       "target": "skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-consultation/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "64af56ecdbd132cb7c28344e8e4ecb2e5dacf811",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1591,7 +1591,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "3cdec9a14d62d2e046ed924c972efc30a7d43aca",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "40682d97ac83aa9178487348d5abf176334fd439e2d12f8e5cda1f8b20cd2c30",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "775dfc9fdcc6b96d6e267f2b8c5e7eedcf8a1d98b764c134d7111a39f3f07301",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -1820,7 +1820,7 @@
       "source_path": "design-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "bdcda48e29b489a1cc49faa333922412251d4b41",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
       "target": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@
       "source_path": "qa/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "11997f7b878282c34b6bfd3d4b7a8131f9ad4da8",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2288,7 +2288,7 @@
       "source_path": "qa-only/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "75c4123cc5c406ffdd36c71a094335c137135b1e",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2466,7 +2466,7 @@
       "source_path": "devex-review/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "081d4f35bbdec0c6b3da8ae71615ec4d41a84551",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "4a907c759b6cf4202fbacaea504b1eb601a53dd35b206109d6c5105168ade7e1",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "6b26b22ae5cbe9483a10ad084cd6b1e8ea32d2c01e482f75b9f8b32944287d0e",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2565,7 +2565,7 @@
       "source_path": "benchmark/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "038f16f5fba4ae4e9eae922e3276bba8ef88149e",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "05ac1b123a605201546a7e95899a5b55708ca7fbb7569c58b4d755c52b45a92d",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "5fd14a7da7e31c24451c26d9123fcbcc376b7875c1a723bf7b69a1474e4f1c6d",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2631,7 +2631,7 @@
       "source_path": "canary/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "89be5f218da2bd812303c87b8c177081727727e5e0d2dc74eb7a73299794d5ef",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "b7f753ba0b98d8c7378dc797dca5950b14ebe26565bac25b5bbaa56b8ea8e13b",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2710,7 +2710,7 @@
       "source_path": "browse/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "9a159e4c9820172c229e2174d4a62a8f9668ab93",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "1b532bd904b1fa1686113e8c96b70015ea6b2e6df7319a72c299de901fe5e81b",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "fee4ae0bd69412a6c3b1fd6737064301240b39731695b53fa10096ba48495019",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2798,7 +2798,7 @@
       "source_path": "open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "ef91a527890a3ac3622cc7dc84bad1ff7b64443b",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "e6e8271ecd89761627e6e67745750b22e64596d0e51e4a2350dccd8e2ce8ebd6",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "f32ab85292ae920d811f4014480c48941d9b34d3ad8141840b4fd33bfdccc7dd",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2873,7 +2873,7 @@
       "source_path": "setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "f812d9f56f27c32fb5f102083bbe418344c1a652",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "7d539b2113f8cc9bf0b8b2f6e1da3dde7028176a6f71de8f47de0a98c45663e8",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "9e8ee39b557d1fbd032a94f5fbe16b675bdd89fe64b1c85a9af6a2ebe54aa976",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -2934,7 +2934,7 @@
       "source_path": "pair-agent/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "75ed42d590f99c46cd0883c37bb1f2f9f499211c",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "256fd576911cc286ddd2510daec8f4c68501cc5534f46edc044c1908574ac64a",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "e75661246495412102632a49d626bc313875ef479d2c570002ec66a2ccd2757a",
       "target": "skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -4136,7 +4136,7 @@
       "source_path": "land-and-deploy/SKILL.md.tmpl",
       "base_sha": "bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781",
       "blob_sha": "98976ad020d541d251cc7e34802a13458ddc88e2",
-      "normalized_render_sha256": "6920f3d97ce474b8f20c8b3e38ca9d3c03973e47af33103a60bab7c02eb867bd",
+      "normalized_render_sha256": "405924730c4e328c1a45de26576cda686d0d7da1fc4a36e840458683e1396aa2",
       "target": "skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md",
       "disposition": "BUG_FIX",
       "overlays": [
@@ -5775,7 +5775,7 @@
       "owner_tree": "qa",
       "consumer_tree": "ship",
       "target": "skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md",
-      "sha256": "9fcf4fdea7d52113c8f5b5cc81c1fb36df591cf9e07bcc38c4ee106b15245997",
+      "sha256": "155174e829ef7895707ff1fad1f130fc1c7150bad9fb3598428a2efc939c5ad6",
       "disposition": "SHARED_MODULE"
     },
     {
diff --git a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-consultation.json b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-consultation.json
index 02c572f2e..5669111f3 100644
--- a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-consultation.json
+++ b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-consultation.json
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
         }
       },
       "mechanical_port": {
-        "rendered_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+        "rendered_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
         "differs_from_baseline": true,
         "allowed_difference": "Canonical GStack 2 carve: exclude the retired shared onboarding wrapper and host hook advisory; resolve retired invocations to six public routes; relocate host/runtime paths; lazy-load pinned carved sections from package-local references."
       },
       "candidate": {
         "target_path": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md",
-        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
         "semantic_signature": {
-          "normalized_sha256": "d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b",
+          "normalized_sha256": "13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b",
           "headings_sha256": "78cdfd5aa0c0264964542d45190c919c7adb8c01ea68a22d67dd0fad538cc643",
           "questions_sha256": "91adedef9aa8000a9aa3385381227d149dbc52cbf2d127656bf0697510b62906",
-          "obligations_sha256": "c36974d06c0f66d0a0f2ea3d27282ed785c7cc956cce40a8c8db35492680c972",
+          "obligations_sha256": "fa0722c312610cfe74c70b1e29f447622b360cb894f3c697b3ca959c3a068ddb",
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diff --git a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-review.json b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-review.json
index 521141563..fb1ee6afc 100644
--- a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-review.json
+++ b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/design-review.json
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
         }
       },
       "mechanical_port": {
-        "rendered_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+        "rendered_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
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         "allowed_difference": "Canonical GStack 2 carve: exclude the retired shared onboarding wrapper and host hook advisory; resolve retired invocations to six public routes; relocate host/runtime paths; lazy-load pinned carved sections from package-local references."
       },
       "candidate": {
         "target_path": "skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md",
-        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
         "semantic_signature": {
-          "normalized_sha256": "fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b",
+          "normalized_sha256": "9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900",
           "headings_sha256": "739abb73da8446c6133835f56ea0c862a7c1fd57e6702a6afe1ed1fd2fb2b2c8",
           "questions_sha256": "57579e50936d62734df12299638bdcf8ce412f24b68688b071be156312aafcbc",
-          "obligations_sha256": "e4fe261ecc3956834dfac15cac60fc4b8057ad0c3b37ede06ee4667d61852655",
+          "obligations_sha256": "3e3b3b8a8e43c0120d60f5517cc03aa64bb31bf50adbe418ba89a7ae63557a55",
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           "question_count": 24,
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diff --git a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/office-hours.json b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/office-hours.json
index 4eee6edca..85b6008e2 100644
--- a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/office-hours.json
+++ b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/office-hours.json
@@ -58,18 +58,18 @@
         }
       },
       "mechanical_port": {
-        "rendered_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
+        "rendered_sha256": "ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba",
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         "allowed_difference": "Canonical GStack 2 carve: exclude the retired shared onboarding wrapper and host hook advisory; resolve retired invocations to six public routes; relocate host/runtime paths; lazy-load pinned carved sections from package-local references."
       },
       "candidate": {
         "target_path": "skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md",
-        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
+        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba",
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-          "normalized_sha256": "1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052",
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           "headings_sha256": "f50aa767e26cdfc3c8fa4c6bdcabd10e061ca0ab59e2aff4c204eaf68bfd1d56",
           "questions_sha256": "92d854d47b2f92f30cc34a59cfb6f3e18449beddcb8ebd5490162545bc8384c7",
-          "obligations_sha256": "c6f9f220f431b50b7721ac9baa3ae3d7be5de88b489c80a45350028c96a9db84",
+          "obligations_sha256": "a8abcb960325c146cb555a71821d702b593bb7dc4f12646d4ecaea11a9cf6b68",
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diff --git a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-fix-verify.json b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-fix-verify.json
index bd102a76b..5b93bd4bb 100644
--- a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-fix-verify.json
+++ b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-fix-verify.json
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
         }
       },
       "mechanical_port": {
-        "rendered_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+        "rendered_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
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       },
       "candidate": {
         "target_path": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md",
-        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
         "semantic_signature": {
-          "normalized_sha256": "e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55",
+          "normalized_sha256": "63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848",
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           "questions_sha256": "8fece376011d8a8606bcd05d52332f77b56de551b7f1abde94bff1f33ef0a9c1",
-          "obligations_sha256": "c9a3696553c10b1338568d728f86f47c9a7a06b2defa37bd557c662d4a9086d8",
+          "obligations_sha256": "8c9e044c4224e4c35838d6ae9241405a5df42c2372c2ce272e0a11f37ab68c86",
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diff --git a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-report-only.json b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-report-only.json
index bb2c224b3..1c0656a30 100644
--- a/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-report-only.json
+++ b/evals/parity/transcripts/deterministic/qa-report-only.json
@@ -57,18 +57,18 @@
         }
       },
       "mechanical_port": {
-        "rendered_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+        "rendered_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
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       },
       "candidate": {
         "target_path": "skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md",
-        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+        "rendered_legacy_body_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
         "semantic_signature": {
-          "normalized_sha256": "376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3",
+          "normalized_sha256": "601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a",
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-          "obligations_sha256": "9ea973707574aa3750e38a2920e65072f804fe7cddf789f1710e08b0a44d92d3",
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diff --git a/runtime/cli.js b/runtime/cli.js
index 56a97bcd1..2eea76259 100644
--- a/runtime/cli.js
+++ b/runtime/cli.js
@@ -627,13 +627,11 @@ async function upgradeCommand({ args, home, stdout, installOptions = {} }) {
   if (parsed.positionals.length) throw cliError("Upgrade accepts only named options", "USAGE");
   if (parsed.flags.has("--rollback")) {
     if (parsed.values.has("--source") || parsed.values.has("--version")) throw cliError("--rollback cannot be combined with staging options", "USAGE");
-    let rollbackBrowserChoice = null;
     const pointer = await rollbackUpgrade(home, {
-      healthCheck: async (fallbackPath) => {
-        rollbackBrowserChoice = await resolvedBrowserChoiceForRuntimePath(fallbackPath);
-      },
+      prepareActivation: async (fallbackPath) => ({
+        browserChoice: await resolvedBrowserChoiceForRuntimePath(fallbackPath),
+      }),
     });
-    if (rollbackBrowserChoice) await configSetBrowserChoice(home, rollbackBrowserChoice);
     write(stdout, parsed.flags.has("--json") ? `${JSON.stringify(pointer, null, 2)}\n` : `Rolled back to ${pointer.current}\n`);
     return 0;
   }
diff --git a/runtime/doctor.js b/runtime/doctor.js
index 3ecf5c061..172caa39e 100644
--- a/runtime/doctor.js
+++ b/runtime/doctor.js
@@ -143,7 +143,11 @@ export async function runDoctor(options = {}) {
         add("specialist-tool:python", python.ok ? "pass" : "warn", python.message, python.details);
         const selected = new Set(Array.isArray(manifest?.selectedCapabilities) ? manifest.selectedCapabilities : []);
         const launchers = manifest?.capabilities ?? {};
-        for (const capability of OPTIONAL_RUNTIME_CAPABILITIES) {
+        const capabilitiesToInspect = [
+          ...OPTIONAL_RUNTIME_CAPABILITIES,
+          ...(selected.has("browser-visible") ? ["browser-visible"] : []),
+        ];
+        for (const capability of capabilitiesToInspect) {
           if (!selected.has(capability)) {
             add(`capability:${capability}`, "warn", "not selected");
             continue;
@@ -158,8 +162,11 @@ export async function runDoctor(options = {}) {
             add(`capability:${capability}`, "fail", "selected but required launcher metadata is missing");
             continue;
           }
-          if (capability === "browser") {
-            const browser = runtimeConfig?.browser?.provider === "installed"
+          if (capability === "browser" || capability === "browser-visible") {
+            const visible = capability === "browser-visible";
+            const browser = visible && runtimeConfig?.browser?.provider !== "managed"
+              ? { ok: false, message: "visible GStack Browser requires the managed Chromium provider" }
+              : runtimeConfig?.browser?.provider === "installed"
               ? await inspectInstalledChromium(
                 activeRoot,
                 options.nodeCommand ?? process.env.GSTACK_NODE ?? "node",
@@ -167,7 +174,11 @@ export async function runDoctor(options = {}) {
                 options,
               )
               : runtimeConfig?.browser?.provider === "managed"
-                ? await inspectManagedChromium(activeRoot, options.nodeCommand ?? process.env.GSTACK_NODE ?? "node")
+                ? await inspectManagedChromium(
+                  activeRoot,
+                  options.nodeCommand ?? process.env.GSTACK_NODE ?? "node",
+                  { visible },
+                )
                 : { ok: false, message: "browser capability is installed, but no browser provider was explicitly selected" };
             add(`capability:${capability}`, browser.ok ? "pass" : "fail", browser.message, browser.details);
             continue;
@@ -245,7 +256,7 @@ async function inspectPython(env) {
   return { ok: false, message: "Python 3 is absent; only specialist flows that explicitly request it are unavailable" };
 }
 
-async function inspectManagedChromium(activeRoot, nodeCommand) {
+async function inspectManagedChromium(activeRoot, nodeCommand, options = {}) {
   const browserRoot = path.join(activeRoot, ".gstack-runtime-browsers");
   const modulePath = path.join(activeRoot, "node_modules", "playwright", "index.mjs");
   const [browserStat, moduleStat] = await Promise.all([
@@ -260,11 +271,15 @@ async function inspectManagedChromium(activeRoot, nodeCommand) {
     const result = await captureCommand(nodeCommand, [
       "--input-type=module",
       "--eval",
-      `const { chromium } = await import(${JSON.stringify(moduleUrl)}); const browser = await chromium.launch({ headless: true }); try { process.stdout.write(browser.version()); } finally { await browser.close(); }`,
+      `const { chromium } = await import(${JSON.stringify(moduleUrl)}); const browser = await chromium.launch(${options.visible ? '{ headless: true, channel: "chromium" }' : "{ headless: true }"}); try { process.stdout.write(browser.version()); } finally { await browser.close(); }`,
     ], { env: { ...process.env, PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH: browserRoot } });
     const version = result.stdout.trim();
     if (!version) return { ok: false, message: "managed Chromium launched without reporting a browser version" };
-    return { ok: true, message: `managed headless Chromium ${version} launches and exits cleanly`, details: { browserRoot, version } };
+    return {
+      ok: true,
+      message: `managed ${options.visible ? "visible-capable" : "headless"} Chromium ${version} launches and exits cleanly`,
+      details: { browserRoot, version },
+    };
   } catch (error) {
     return { ok: false, message: `managed Chromium is not runnable: ${error.message}` };
   }
@@ -311,7 +326,7 @@ async function inspectXcrun() {
 }
 
 function capabilityLaunchersReady(capability, launchers) {
-  if (capability === "browser") return typeof launchers.browse === "string";
+  if (capability === "browser" || capability === "browser-visible") return typeof launchers.browse === "string";
   if (capability === "design") return typeof launchers["gstack-design"] === "string";
   if (capability === "pdf") return typeof launchers["make-pdf"] === "string";
   if (capability === "diagram") return true;
diff --git a/runtime/install.js b/runtime/install.js
index 2d5a67f67..9046a2a6f 100644
--- a/runtime/install.js
+++ b/runtime/install.js
@@ -1641,6 +1641,12 @@ const bundle = await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8")
 const browserBacked = relative.startsWith("browse/") || relative.startsWith("make-pdf/");
 const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle?.selectedCapabilities) ? bundle.selectedCapabilities : [];
 const runtimeComponents = Array.isArray(bundle?.runtimeComponents) ? bundle.runtimeComponents : [];
+const visibleRequested = relative.startsWith("browse/") && (
+  args.includes("connect") ||
+  args.includes("handoff") ||
+  args.includes("--headed") ||
+  (args[0] === "pair-agent" && !args.includes("--headless"))
+);
 const slotProvider = bundle?.browserChoice?.provider ?? (
   runtimeComponents.includes("browser-headless") || runtimeComponents.includes("browser-visible")
     ? "managed"
@@ -1656,16 +1662,16 @@ if (browserBacked) {
   if (slotProvider && browserChoice.provider !== slotProvider) {
     throw new Error("The selected browser provider does not match the active runtime slot; run the signed browser capability bootstrap for the selected provider");
   }
+  if (visibleRequested && !selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible")) {
+    if (browserChoice.provider === "installed") {
+      throw new Error("Visible GStack Browser requires managed Chromium; preview and approve the browser-visible capability first");
+    }
+    throw new Error("The active runtime slot does not include visible Chromium; preview and approve the browser-visible capability first");
+  }
   if (browserChoice.provider === "installed") {
     if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible")) {
       throw new Error("Visible GStack Browser requires a managed Chromium runtime slot");
     }
-    const visibleRequested = relative.startsWith("browse/") && (
-      args.includes("connect") ||
-      args.includes("handoff") ||
-      args.includes("--headed") ||
-      (args[0] === "pair-agent" && !args.includes("--headless"))
-    );
     if (visibleRequested) {
       throw new Error("Visible GStack Browser requires managed Chromium; preview and approve the browser-visible capability first");
     }
@@ -1835,7 +1841,8 @@ function processIsAlive(pid) {
 }
 
 function validTransactionPath(value) {
-  if (value === "runtime-install.json" || (typeof value === "string" && /^bin\\/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$/.test(value))) return value;
+  if (value === "config.json" || value === "runtime-install.json" ||
+      (typeof value === "string" && /^bin\\/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$/.test(value))) return value;
   throw new Error("Invalid managed runtime transaction path");
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/managed-home.js b/runtime/managed-home.js
index 6b00f5d0a..782328366 100644
--- a/runtime/managed-home.js
+++ b/runtime/managed-home.js
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ function validateTransactionPath(value) {
     throw managedHomeError("Invalid runtime transaction path", "RUNTIME_TRANSACTION_INVALID");
   }
   const normalized = value.replaceAll("\\", "/");
-  if (normalized === "runtime-install.json" || /^bin\/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$/.test(normalized)) return normalized;
+  if (normalized === "config.json" || normalized === "runtime-install.json" || /^bin\/[A-Za-z0-9._-]+$/.test(normalized)) return normalized;
   throw managedHomeError(`Invalid runtime transaction path: ${value}`, "RUNTIME_TRANSACTION_INVALID");
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/runtime/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/runtime/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/runtime/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/runtime/upgrade.js b/runtime/upgrade.js
index ea28c5dde..e9b156b3f 100644
--- a/runtime/upgrade.js
+++ b/runtime/upgrade.js
@@ -2,14 +2,16 @@ import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { randomUUID } from "node:crypto";
 import { assertPathInside, resolveRuntimePaths } from "./paths.js";
-import { atomicWriteJson, pathExists, readJson, renameWithRetry } from "./storage.js";
+import { atomicWriteFile, atomicWriteJson, pathExists, readJson, renameWithRetry } from "./storage.js";
 import {
   assertManagedHome,
   ensureManagedHome,
   ensureManagedRuntimeDirectory,
   recoverRuntimeTransactionUnlocked,
+  RUNTIME_TRANSACTION_FILE,
   withRuntimeLifecycleLock,
 } from "./managed-home.js";
+import { configSetBrowserChoice } from "./config.js";
 import { errorWithCode as upgradeError } from "./errors.js";
 import { currentIsoTimestamp as isoNow } from "./time.js";
 
@@ -214,6 +216,11 @@ export async function rollbackUpgrade(home, options = {}) {
     }
     await assertTreeContainsNoLinks(fallbackPath);
     if (options.healthCheck) await options.healthCheck(fallbackPath);
+    const activation = options.prepareActivation
+      ? await options.prepareActivation(fallbackPath)
+      : null;
+    const syncBrowserChoice = activation != null &&
+      Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(activation, "browserChoice");
     const rolledBack = {
       schemaVersion: 2,
       status: "active",
@@ -222,11 +229,70 @@ export async function rollbackUpgrade(home, options = {}) {
       rolledBackFrom: pointer.current ?? null,
       rolledBackAt: isoNow(options.now),
     };
-    await atomicWriteJson(paths.versionPointer, rolledBack, { mode: 0o600 });
+    if (!syncBrowserChoice) {
+      await atomicWriteJson(paths.versionPointer, rolledBack, { mode: 0o600 });
+      return rolledBack;
+    }
+
+    const configSnapshot = await snapshotRollbackConfig(paths.config);
+    const journalPath = path.join(resolved, RUNTIME_TRANSACTION_FILE);
+    await atomicWriteJson(journalPath, {
+      schemaVersion: 1,
+      kind: "gstack-runtime-install-transaction",
+      status: "prepared",
+      home: resolved,
+      version: fallbackVersion,
+      previousPointerExists: true,
+      previousPointer: pointer,
+      files: [configSnapshot == null
+        ? { path: "config.json", existed: false }
+        : {
+            path: "config.json",
+            existed: true,
+            mode: configSnapshot.mode,
+            dataBase64: configSnapshot.data.toString("base64"),
+          }],
+      preparedAt: isoNow(options.now),
+    }, { mode: 0o600 });
+    try {
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(resolved, activation.browserChoice);
+      await atomicWriteJson(paths.versionPointer, rolledBack, { mode: 0o600 });
+      await fs.rm(journalPath, { force: true });
+    } catch (cause) {
+      const rollbackErrors = [];
+      try {
+        if (configSnapshot == null) await fs.rm(paths.config, { force: true });
+        else await atomicWriteFile(paths.config, configSnapshot.data, { mode: configSnapshot.mode });
+      } catch (error) {
+        rollbackErrors.push(error);
+      }
+      try {
+        await atomicWriteJson(paths.versionPointer, pointer, { mode: 0o600 });
+      } catch (error) {
+        rollbackErrors.push(error);
+      }
+      if (rollbackErrors.length === 0) await fs.rm(journalPath, { force: true });
+      const error = upgradeError("Rollback activation failed and the previous runtime was restored", "ROLLBACK_ACTIVATION_FAILED", cause);
+      if (rollbackErrors.length === 1) error.rollbackError = rollbackErrors[0];
+      else if (rollbackErrors.length > 1) error.rollbackError = new AggregateError(rollbackErrors, "Runtime rollback restoration was incomplete");
+      throw error;
+    }
     return rolledBack;
   }, options);
 }
 
+async function snapshotRollbackConfig(configPath) {
+  const stat = await fs.lstat(configPath).catch((error) => {
+    if (error?.code === "ENOENT") return null;
+    throw error;
+  });
+  if (!stat) return null;
+  if (!stat.isFile() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+    throw upgradeError("Refusing unsafe browser configuration during rollback", "RUNTIME_TRANSACTION_INVALID");
+  }
+  return { data: await fs.readFile(configPath), mode: stat.mode & 0o777 };
+}
+
 export async function activeVersion(home, options = {}) {
   const recovered = await recoverPendingUpgrade(home, options);
   return recovered.pointer;
diff --git a/scripts/build-app.sh b/scripts/build-app.sh
index 8869212ab..7d3d0dab3 100755
--- a/scripts/build-app.sh
+++ b/scripts/build-app.sh
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ CHROMIUM_DIR=$(ls -d "$PW_CACHE"/chromium-*/chrome-mac-arm64 2>/dev/null | sort
 
 if [ -z "$CHROMIUM_DIR" ]; then
   echo "ERROR: Playwright Chromium not found in $PW_CACHE"
-  echo "Run: bunx playwright install chromium"
+  echo "Run: bunx playwright-core install chromium"
   exit 1
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/gstack2/render-legacy.ts b/scripts/gstack2/render-legacy.ts
index 1603043fe..fb4cfc603 100644
--- a/scripts/gstack2/render-legacy.ts
+++ b/scripts/gstack2/render-legacy.ts
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ function portLegacyText(value: string, source: string): string {
     .replaceAll('bun run $GSTACK_BIN/gstack-next-version', '$GSTACK_BIN/gstack-next-version')
     .replaceAll('bun run $GSTACK_BIN/gstack-version-bump', '$GSTACK_BIN/gstack-version-bump')
     .replaceAll('DISCOVER_BIN="bun run $GSTACK_BIN/gstack-global-discover"', 'DISCOVER_BIN="$GSTACK_BIN/gstack-global-discover"')
-    .replaceAll('Tell the user: "gstack browse needs a one-time build (~10 seconds). OK to proceed?" Then STOP and wait.', 'Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.')
+    .replaceAll('Tell the user: "gstack browse needs a one-time build (~10 seconds). OK to proceed?" Then STOP and wait.', 'Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.')
+    .replaceAll('Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.', 'Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.')
     .replace(/^command -v bun >\/dev\/null 2>&1 \|\| echo "redaction scan skipped — bun not on PATH"\n/gm, '');
 
   body = body
diff --git a/skills/debug/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/debug/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/debug/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/debug/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md
index 71f98752d..aa6b1f877 100644
--- a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md
+++ b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-consultation.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-consultation/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=64af56ecdbd132cb7c28344e8e4ecb2e5dacf811 baseline_render_sha256=62b8141e0b3edb26dcfd175c25c7021d4713b64add121137ace0a123e6e6ea8a ported_render_sha256=d323457820291635bc4c46e4559ce6f4d194b940607b76208e95df0c86ffcb0b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-consultation/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=64af56ecdbd132cb7c28344e8e4ecb2e5dacf811 baseline_render_sha256=62b8141e0b3edb26dcfd175c25c7021d4713b64add121137ace0a123e6e6ea8a ported_render_sha256=13d5aa11be43cf78f7d77b9f8da081c5fedd3b7e767815ff9d650c6bc5d0738b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$design --mode Generate --module design-consultation visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=design-artifacts web=optional -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=design-consultation -->
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md
index 2ff8e1b2f..b9c3053ff 100644
--- a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md
+++ b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-html.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=3cdec9a14d62d2e046ed924c972efc30a7d43aca baseline_render_sha256=d16ec32f4c07da49d32efc309e621b514854ce355db8347647b9f9fc215ff66d ported_render_sha256=40682d97ac83aa9178487348d5abf176334fd439e2d12f8e5cda1f8b20cd2c30 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-html/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=3cdec9a14d62d2e046ed924c972efc30a7d43aca baseline_render_sha256=d16ec32f4c07da49d32efc309e621b514854ce355db8347647b9f9fc215ff66d ported_render_sha256=775dfc9fdcc6b96d6e267f2b8c5e7eedcf8a1d98b764c134d7111a39f3f07301 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$design --mode Implement --module design-html visibility=primary depth=standard mutation=design-artifacts web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=design-html -->
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md
index 6cbedc465..762f36cd2 100644
--- a/skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md
+++ b/skills/design/references/legacy/design-review.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-review/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=bdcda48e29b489a1cc49faa333922412251d4b41 baseline_render_sha256=ff6d5d4858ed45db1e9581080739c0b4c5029bca44ecabe0c385637ece68e0cb ported_render_sha256=fe15a4fae62fba41432ae18bbf4ef5620058b784b7bf9768304d0d1dd17bf45b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=design-review/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=bdcda48e29b489a1cc49faa333922412251d4b41 baseline_render_sha256=ff6d5d4858ed45db1e9581080739c0b4c5029bca44ecabe0c385637ece68e0cb ported_render_sha256=9d6828dd60fbe4ab9647c5f4456b0953c514ce22ddb1a9c1c3e572c70491f900 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$design --mode Implement --module design-review visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=fix-safe web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=design-review -->
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/design/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/design/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/design/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/design/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md b/skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md
index 3b4d5fedc..eaf2a10b6 100644
--- a/skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md
+++ b/skills/plan/references/legacy/office-hours.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=8568fe73cca76a80805fab3092cacd10db7e1d7f baseline_render_sha256=5af4dc503ee149ac5052617ec4d5ad1947c9fbf28c663f40457b0eb07f5fcea3 ported_render_sha256=1a5c9dbda769631df4c3e909fde6b97917780f6a7e9eca5a4edc8c2d0f302052 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=office-hours/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=8568fe73cca76a80805fab3092cacd10db7e1d7f baseline_render_sha256=5af4dc503ee149ac5052617ec4d5ad1947c9fbf28c663f40457b0eb07f5fcea3 ported_render_sha256=ebb8816907a17722d1e1d227de782684870805368fcdc07f69347f32d907a9ba disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$plan --mode Discovery --module office-hours visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=design-doc-only web=optional -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=office-hours -->
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/plan/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/plan/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/plan/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/plan/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md
index d2ff2e499..f9fadd79e 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/benchmark.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=benchmark/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=038f16f5fba4ae4e9eae922e3276bba8ef88149e baseline_render_sha256=c1a8019b9b430790f0917df8d58e7a645f01f2784398343d64e5505b535c1ea7 ported_render_sha256=05ac1b123a605201546a7e95899a5b55708ca7fbb7569c58b4d755c52b45a92d disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=benchmark/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=038f16f5fba4ae4e9eae922e3276bba8ef88149e baseline_render_sha256=c1a8019b9b430790f0917df8d58e7a645f01f2784398343d64e5505b535c1ea7 ported_render_sha256=5fd14a7da7e31c24451c26d9123fcbcc376b7875c1a723bf7b69a1474e4f1c6d disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module benchmark visibility=primary depth=standard mutation=report-only web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=benchmark -->
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md
index f4c7eadc7..0e9fa5ff9 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/browse.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=browse/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=9a159e4c9820172c229e2174d4a62a8f9668ab93 baseline_render_sha256=26c248b90f91a99d1e31e51afaec46385941ab2071bfab7bfdf6d044151ab3ac ported_render_sha256=1b532bd904b1fa1686113e8c96b70015ea6b2e6df7319a72c299de901fe5e81b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=browse/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=9a159e4c9820172c229e2174d4a62a8f9668ab93 baseline_render_sha256=26c248b90f91a99d1e31e51afaec46385941ab2071bfab7bfdf6d044151ab3ac ported_render_sha256=fee4ae0bd69412a6c3b1fd6737064301240b39731695b53fa10096ba48495019 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module browse visibility=internal depth=standard mutation=source-defined web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=browse -->
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md
index 2d649c96b..246f91915 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/canary.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=canary/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c baseline_render_sha256=8dd0ff918566e1c5536f1bfcc546eebbdbee5e43d0a05b14a8efb898d3574dbe ported_render_sha256=89be5f218da2bd812303c87b8c177081727727e5e0d2dc74eb7a73299794d5ef disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=canary/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c baseline_render_sha256=8dd0ff918566e1c5536f1bfcc546eebbdbee5e43d0a05b14a8efb898d3574dbe ported_render_sha256=b7f753ba0b98d8c7378dc797dca5950b14ebe26565bac25b5bbaa56b8ea8e13b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module canary visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=report-only web=production -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=canary -->
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md
index 0a0c74d33..ee2cec882 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/devex-review.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=devex-review/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=081d4f35bbdec0c6b3da8ae71615ec4d41a84551 baseline_render_sha256=d070b5d50c0b8a59efc7be04881734419f815f01b065ee9d15cf151dba9afb18 ported_render_sha256=4a907c759b6cf4202fbacaea504b1eb601a53dd35b206109d6c5105168ade7e1 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=devex-review/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=081d4f35bbdec0c6b3da8ae71615ec4d41a84551 baseline_render_sha256=d070b5d50c0b8a59efc7be04881734419f815f01b065ee9d15cf151dba9afb18 ported_render_sha256=6b26b22ae5cbe9483a10ad084cd6b1e8ea32d2c01e482f75b9f8b32944287d0e disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module devex-review visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=report-only web=optional -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=devex-review -->
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md
index 9c63ec3b0..31b60ebea 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/open-gstack-browser.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=ef91a527890a3ac3622cc7dc84bad1ff7b64443b baseline_render_sha256=f68b483619f37175687c64510c4de5c718ad3aa2d644134f6539d28df3a9ad7c ported_render_sha256=e6e8271ecd89761627e6e67745750b22e64596d0e51e4a2350dccd8e2ce8ebd6 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=open-gstack-browser/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=ef91a527890a3ac3622cc7dc84bad1ff7b64443b baseline_render_sha256=f68b483619f37175687c64510c4de5c718ad3aa2d644134f6539d28df3a9ad7c ported_render_sha256=f32ab85292ae920d811f4014480c48941d9b34d3ad8141840b4fd33bfdccc7dd disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module open-gstack-browser visibility=internal depth=standard mutation=configuration web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=open-gstack-browser -->
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md
index 7299e34ee..b94e9a6ef 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/pair-agent.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=pair-agent/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=75ed42d590f99c46cd0883c37bb1f2f9f499211c baseline_render_sha256=6bb659c03b5df7c36f446fad30aaec4ab6d5e0d25fb8392702573e66923b02fb ported_render_sha256=256fd576911cc286ddd2510daec8f4c68501cc5534f46edc044c1908574ac64a disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=pair-agent/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=75ed42d590f99c46cd0883c37bb1f2f9f499211c baseline_render_sha256=6bb659c03b5df7c36f446fad30aaec4ab6d5e0d25fb8392702573e66923b02fb ported_render_sha256=e75661246495412102632a49d626bc313875ef479d2c570002ec66a2ccd2757a disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module pair-agent visibility=internal depth=standard mutation=configuration web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=pair-agent -->
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md
index c42cebe4a..0cbe8467a 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa-only.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=qa-only/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=75c4123cc5c406ffdd36c71a094335c137135b1e baseline_render_sha256=7f8c42379e748156bf131a5bae121ab9a3f307e57619e261f5db7865eead3029 ported_render_sha256=376eff42459f5b8755bd95934cce615db0fca16504c8e82f84b2704c63f62af3 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=qa-only/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=75c4123cc5c406ffdd36c71a094335c137135b1e baseline_render_sha256=7f8c42379e748156bf131a5bae121ab9a3f307e57619e261f5db7865eead3029 ported_render_sha256=601eded52ee9e7c5c5ad7c0ce8a7d63377aa64cdaa56a90c0fe40f972939794a disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module qa-only visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=report-only web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=qa-only -->
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md
index 84da354dc..b35cd72ae 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/qa.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=qa/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=11997f7b878282c34b6bfd3d4b7a8131f9ad4da8 baseline_render_sha256=07e2c6a841c6701d186b3b6536cfdb87af49566029971502065f636576ba071c ported_render_sha256=e7cd5615adaf54413daa97838cb364810317dd7d661cec5cc4ed40eb48192e55 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=qa/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=11997f7b878282c34b6bfd3d4b7a8131f9ad4da8 baseline_render_sha256=07e2c6a841c6701d186b3b6536cfdb87af49566029971502065f636576ba071c ported_render_sha256=63135ad3f73ea195fffc535166396bbf66bc223378686670c6d7d362f80e5848 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Fix --module qa visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=fix-safe web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=qa -->
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md b/skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md
index d148e81ba..c291dbbde 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md
+++ b/skills/qa/references/legacy/setup-browser-cookies.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=f812d9f56f27c32fb5f102083bbe418344c1a652 baseline_render_sha256=22b03503fa8ba63de98866d64ab0563291f4b41e1577c8022d09add3e0bdb59c ported_render_sha256=7d539b2113f8cc9bf0b8b2f6e1da3dde7028176a6f71de8f47de0a98c45663e8 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=setup-browser-cookies/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=f812d9f56f27c32fb5f102083bbe418344c1a652 baseline_render_sha256=22b03503fa8ba63de98866d64ab0563291f4b41e1577c8022d09add3e0bdb59c ported_render_sha256=9e8ee39b557d1fbd032a94f5fbe16b675bdd89fe64b1c85a9af6a2ebe54aa976 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module setup-browser-cookies visibility=internal depth=standard mutation=configuration web=local-browser -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=setup-browser-cookies -->
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/qa/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/qa/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/qa/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/qa/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/skills/review/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/review/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/review/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/review/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md b/skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md
index 2d649c96b..246f91915 100644
--- a/skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md
+++ b/skills/ship/references/legacy/canary.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=canary/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c baseline_render_sha256=8dd0ff918566e1c5536f1bfcc546eebbdbee5e43d0a05b14a8efb898d3574dbe ported_render_sha256=89be5f218da2bd812303c87b8c177081727727e5e0d2dc74eb7a73299794d5ef disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=canary/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=d1eb2950aba2fa2b09d90f13143492c60d46793c baseline_render_sha256=8dd0ff918566e1c5536f1bfcc546eebbdbee5e43d0a05b14a8efb898d3574dbe ported_render_sha256=b7f753ba0b98d8c7378dc797dca5950b14ebe26565bac25b5bbaa56b8ea8e13b disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$qa --mode Report --module canary visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=report-only web=production -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=canary -->
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md b/skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md
index 4ababccae..b0053e9da 100644
--- a/skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md
+++ b/skills/ship/references/legacy/land-and-deploy.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!-- GENERATED by scripts/gstack2/generate-skill-tree.ts; do not edit. -->
-<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=land-and-deploy/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=98976ad020d541d251cc7e34802a13458ddc88e2 baseline_render_sha256=be77d9332d68281785eb2daf1d094f53bad537dfa282a4abb8638aca398cd2b9 ported_render_sha256=6920f3d97ce474b8f20c8b3e38ca9d3c03973e47af33103a60bab7c02eb867bd disposition=BUG_FIX -->
+<!-- GSTACK2_PROVENANCE source=land-and-deploy/SKILL.md.tmpl base=bb57306d98c97011b0919c6132705a15b1579781 blob=98976ad020d541d251cc7e34802a13458ddc88e2 baseline_render_sha256=be77d9332d68281785eb2daf1d094f53bad537dfa282a4abb8638aca398cd2b9 ported_render_sha256=405924730c4e328c1a45de26576cda686d0d7da1fc4a36e840458683e1396aa2 disposition=BUG_FIX -->
 <!-- GSTACK2_ROUTING replacement=$ship --mode Land --module land-and-deploy visibility=primary depth=deep mutation=merge-deploy web=production -->
 
 <!-- GSTACK2_LEGACY_BODY_START source=land-and-deploy -->
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fi
 ```
 
 If `NEEDS_SETUP`:
-1. Tell the user: "The optional managed headless browser capability is missing. Do you want to preview its exact dependency-closed component plan and compressed bytes now?" Then STOP and wait.
+1. Tell the user: "The browser-backed capability is not ready. Do you want to see the local setup options—GStack-managed Chromium or a detected installed Chromium executable—with no network access or changes?" Then STOP and wait.
 2. Read `references/RUNTIME.md` and follow its explicit capability bootstrap. Never assume a standard-installed skill directory contains `./setup`.
 3. The approved managed runtime includes its own pinned Bun at `$GSTACK_BIN/bun`; never download or install another Bun from a skill workflow.
 
diff --git a/skills/ship/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs b/skills/ship/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
index d4e7a3cab..2629db959 100644
--- a/skills/ship/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
+++ b/skills/ship/references/support/runtime-bootstrap.mjs
@@ -123,13 +123,36 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
       throw bootstrapError("Browser options require a browser-backed capability", "BOOTSTRAP_USAGE");
     }
     if (parsed.source) {
+      const sourceHome = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
+      const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(sourceHome, BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION).catch(() => null);
+      if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+        browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+          platform,
+          env: options.env,
+          homeDir: options.homeDir,
+        });
+      }
+      parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+      if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+        throw bootstrapError(
+          "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; choose a browser provider before changing this runtime.",
+          "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+        );
+      }
+      if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
       if (parsed.action === "preview") {
         io.stdout.write("Reviewed-source fallback has no signed compressed-byte manifest; the local installer can provide an on-disk preview only.\n");
         return 0;
       }
       if (!parsed.yes) throw bootstrapError("Installation requires explicit --yes after review", "BOOTSTRAP_CONSENT_REQUIRED");
       io.stderr.write("Developer-only source install: only continue with a checkout you reviewed and trust.\n");
-      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, { ...options, ...io, prepared: false, browserChoice });
+      return await installFromSource(parsed.source, parsed, {
+        ...options,
+        ...io,
+        prepared: false,
+        replaceCapabilities: true,
+        browserChoice,
+      });
     }
 
     const fetch_ = options.fetch ?? globalThis.fetch;
@@ -146,7 +169,23 @@ export async function main(argv = process.argv.slice(2), options = {}) {
     });
     validateManifest(manifest, target);
     const home = path.resolve(parsed.home ?? process.env.GSTACK_HOME ?? path.join(os.homedir(), ".gstack"));
-    const reusable = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const active = await inspectReusableRuntime(home, manifest.version).catch(() => null);
+    const reusable = active?.releaseMatches ? active : null;
+    if (!browserChoice && active?.browserChoice) {
+      browserChoice = await resolveBrowserChoice(active.browserChoice, {
+        platform,
+        env: options.env,
+        homeDir: options.homeDir,
+      });
+    }
+    parsed.capabilities = mergeRetainedCapabilities(parsed.capabilities, active, browserChoice);
+    if (browserChoiceRequired(parsed.capabilities) && !browserChoice) {
+      throw bootstrapError(
+        "The active browser capability does not record a reusable browser provider; preview browser setup options before changing this runtime.",
+        "BOOTSTRAP_BROWSER_CHOICE_REQUIRED",
+      );
+    }
+    if (browserChoice) assertBrowserChoiceSupportsCapabilities(browserChoice, parsed.capabilities);
     const plan = buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, parsed.capabilities, reusable, browserChoice);
     if (parsed.json) io.stdout.write(`${JSON.stringify({ ok: true, action: parsed.action, ...plan }, null, 2)}\n`);
     else printComponentPlan(io.stdout, plan);
@@ -300,6 +339,24 @@ function selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice) {
   return applyBrowserProviderToComponents([...selected], browserChoice);
 }
 
+function mergeRetainedCapabilities(requested, reusable, browserChoice) {
+  const selected = new Set([
+    ...(Array.isArray(reusable?.selectedCapabilities) ? reusable.selectedCapabilities : []),
+    ...requested,
+  ]);
+  if (browserChoice?.provider === "installed") selected.delete("browser-visible");
+  const pending = [...selected];
+  while (pending.length) {
+    for (const dependency of CAPABILITY_DEPENDENCIES[pending.pop()] ?? []) {
+      if (!selected.has(dependency)) {
+        selected.add(dependency);
+        pending.push(dependency);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return [...selected].sort();
+}
+
 function buildComponentPlan(manifest, target, capabilities, reusable, browserChoice) {
   const components = selectedComponents(capabilities, browserChoice);
   const retained = new Set(reusable?.components ?? []);
@@ -341,10 +398,31 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
   const stat = await fs.lstat(root);
   if (!stat.isDirectory() || stat.isSymbolicLink()) return null;
   const bundle = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), "utf8"));
-  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || bundle?.version !== version || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
+  const releaseMatches = bundle?.version === version ||
+    (typeof bundle?.version === "string" && bundle.version.startsWith(`${version}-caps-`));
+  if (bundle?.schemaVersion !== 2 || typeof bundle.version !== "string" ||
+      !/^[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]{0,127}$/.test(bundle.version) || !Array.isArray(bundle.runtimeComponents) ||
       !Array.isArray(bundle.files)) return null;
   const components = [...new Set(bundle.runtimeComponents)];
   if (!components.length || components.some((component) => !Object.hasOwn(COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES, component))) return null;
+  const selectedCapabilities = Array.isArray(bundle.selectedCapabilities)
+    ? [...new Set(bundle.selectedCapabilities)]
+    : [];
+  if (selectedCapabilities.some((capability) => !CAPABILITIES.has(capability))) return null;
+  let browserChoice = null;
+  if (browserChoiceRequired(selectedCapabilities)) {
+    const explicit = bundle.browserChoice;
+    if (!explicit || !["managed", "installed"].includes(explicit.provider)) return null;
+    if (explicit.provider === "installed") {
+      if (selectedCapabilities.includes("browser-visible") ||
+          typeof explicit.executablePath !== "string" || !path.isAbsolute(explicit.executablePath) ||
+          components.includes("browser-headless") || components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "installed", executablePath: explicit.executablePath };
+    } else {
+      if (!components.includes("browser-headless") && !components.includes("browser-visible")) return null;
+      browserChoice = { provider: "managed", executablePath: null };
+    }
+  }
   await assertNoLinks(root);
   const files = [];
   const seen = new Set();
@@ -360,7 +438,7 @@ async function inspectReusableRuntime(home, version) {
         await sha256File(file) !== entry.sha256) return null;
     files.push(relative);
   }
-  return { root, components, files };
+  return { root, components, files, selectedCapabilities, browserChoice, releaseMatches };
 }
 
 async function seedReusableRuntime(reusable, destination, claimedFiles) {
@@ -496,6 +574,7 @@ async function installFromSource(source, parsed, options) {
   if (parsed.home) args.push("--home", path.resolve(parsed.home));
   if (options.version) args.push("--version", options.version);
   if (options.prepared) args.push("--prepared");
+  if (options.prepared || options.replaceCapabilities) args.push("--replace-capabilities");
   await run(options.nodeCommand ?? process.execPath, args);
   options.stdout.write(`Installed optional capabilities: ${parsed.capabilities.join(", ")}. No coding host was enrolled.\n`);
   return 0;
diff --git a/test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts b/test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts
index fea03f762..f1e33430e 100644
--- a/test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts
+++ b/test/gstack2-runtime-install.test.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,23 @@ describe("GStack 2 managed runtime installer", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  test("managed headless launchers require the separately approved visible-browser slot", async () => {
+    await withFixture(async ({ source, home }) => {
+      await installFixture(source, home, "managed-visible-refusal", {
+        entries: BROWSER_ENTRIES,
+        capabilities: BROWSER_CAPABILITIES,
+        browserChoice: { provider: "managed", executablePath: null },
+      });
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(home, { provider: "managed", executablePath: null });
+      await expect(runInstalledLauncher(home, "browse", ["--headed"], { capture: true }))
+        .rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("does not include visible Chromium") });
+      await expect(runInstalledLauncher(home, "browse", ["connect"], { capture: true }))
+        .rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("does not include visible Chromium") });
+      await expect(runInstalledLauncher(home, "browse", ["handoff"], { capture: true }))
+        .rejects.toMatchObject({ stderr: expect.stringContaining("does not include visible Chromium") });
+    });
+  });
+
   test("design-only launchers do not require an unrelated browser selection", async () => {
     await withFixture(async ({ source, home }) => {
       const design = path.join(source, "design", "dist", "design");
@@ -248,6 +265,45 @@ describe("GStack 2 managed runtime installer", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  test("rollback switches the runtime pointer and recorded browser choice in one recoverable transaction", async () => {
+    await withFixture(async ({ source, home }) => {
+      const executable = await fs.realpath(process.execPath);
+      const fallback = await installFixture(source, home, "installed-fallback-valid");
+      const fallbackManifestPath = path.join(fallback.path, ".gstack-bundle.json");
+      const fallbackManifest = await readJson(fallbackManifestPath);
+      await fs.writeFile(fallbackManifestPath, JSON.stringify({
+        ...fallbackManifest,
+        selectedCapabilities: ["browser"],
+        runtimeComponents: ["browser-code", "core"],
+        browserChoice: { provider: "installed", executablePath: executable },
+      }));
+
+      const current = await installFixture(source, home, "managed-current-valid");
+      const currentManifestPath = path.join(current.path, ".gstack-bundle.json");
+      const currentManifest = await readJson(currentManifestPath);
+      await fs.writeFile(currentManifestPath, JSON.stringify({
+        ...currentManifest,
+        selectedCapabilities: ["browser"],
+        runtimeComponents: ["browser-headless", "core"],
+        browserChoice: { provider: "managed", executablePath: null },
+      }));
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(home, { provider: "managed", executablePath: null });
+
+      const output = captureStream();
+      expect(await runtimeMain(["upgrade", "--rollback"], {
+        cwd: source,
+        env: { ...process.env, GSTACK_HOME: home },
+        stdout: output.stream,
+        stderr: output.stream,
+      })).toBe(0);
+      expect(await readJson(path.join(home, "versions", "current.json")))
+        .toMatchObject({ current: "installed-fallback-valid", lastKnownGood: "managed-current-valid" });
+      expect((await readJson(path.join(home, "config.json"))).browser)
+        .toEqual({ provider: "installed", executablePath: executable });
+      expect(await exists(path.join(home, ".gstack-runtime-transaction.json"))).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
   test("an installed-browser setup persists the choice only after activation and launches through it", async () => {
     await withFixture(async ({ root, source, home }) => {
       await fs.writeFile(path.join(source, "cap", "tool"), `#!/usr/bin/env node
@@ -958,14 +1014,17 @@ process.stdout.write(process.env.GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH || "unset");
   test("a launcher repairs a crash journal before resolving any runtime", async () => {
     await withFixture(async ({ source, home }) => {
       await installFixture(source, home, "1.0.0");
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(home, { provider: "managed", executablePath: null });
       const pointer = await readJson(path.join(home, "versions", "current.json"));
       const manifest = await fs.readFile(path.join(home, "runtime-install.json"));
+      const config = await fs.readFile(path.join(home, "config.json"));
       // Keep the launcher for this host executable so it can enter the shared
       // recovery path. The transaction restores the inactive host variant.
       const recoverableLauncher = process.platform === "win32" ? "gstack" : "gstack.cmd";
       const launcherPath = path.join(home, "bin", recoverableLauncher);
       const launcherBefore = await fs.readFile(launcherPath);
       await fs.writeFile(path.join(home, "runtime-install.json"), '{"activeVersion":"crashed"}\n');
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(home, { provider: "installed", executablePath: process.execPath });
       await fs.writeFile(launcherPath, "candidate launcher\n");
       await fs.writeFile(path.join(home, "versions", "current.json"), `${JSON.stringify({
         schemaVersion: 2,
@@ -982,6 +1041,7 @@ process.stdout.write(process.env.GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH || "unset");
         previousPointerExists: true,
         previousPointer: pointer,
         files: [
+          { path: "config.json", existed: true, mode: 0o644, dataBase64: config.toString("base64") },
           { path: "runtime-install.json", existed: true, mode: 0o600, dataBase64: manifest.toString("base64") },
           { path: `bin/${recoverableLauncher}`, existed: true, mode: 0o644, dataBase64: launcherBefore.toString("base64") },
         ],
@@ -997,6 +1057,7 @@ process.stdout.write(process.env.GSTACK_CHROMIUM_PATH || "unset");
       const launched = await runInstalledLauncher(home, "gstack", ["doctor"], { capture: true });
       expect(launched.stdout).toContain("gstack fixture doctor");
       expect(await readJson(path.join(home, "versions", "current.json"))).toEqual(pointer);
+      expect(await fs.readFile(path.join(home, "config.json"))).toEqual(config);
       expect(await fs.readFile(path.join(home, "runtime-install.json"))).toEqual(manifest);
       expect(await fs.readFile(launcherPath)).toEqual(launcherBefore);
       expect(await exists(path.join(home, ".gstack-runtime-transaction.json"))).toBe(false);
diff --git a/test/gstack2-runtime-safety-config.test.ts b/test/gstack2-runtime-safety-config.test.ts
index dd0487ecf..86105ac6e 100644
--- a/test/gstack2-runtime-safety-config.test.ts
+++ b/test/gstack2-runtime-safety-config.test.ts
@@ -249,6 +249,25 @@ describe("one config authority", () => {
     expect(setup.stdout).toContain("optional runtime: unchanged");
   });
 
+  test("generic config writes cannot create an incoherent browser selection", async () => {
+    const base = await root();
+    const home = path.join(base, "state");
+    const project = path.join(base, "project");
+    await fs.mkdir(project);
+    const run = (args: string[]) => spawnSync(process.execPath, [gstackBin, ...args], {
+      cwd: project,
+      encoding: "utf8",
+      env: { ...process.env, GSTACK_HOME: home },
+    });
+
+    for (const key of ["browser", "browser.provider", "browser.executablePath"]) {
+      const result = run(["config", "set", key, "installed"]);
+      expect(result.status).toBe(1);
+      expect(result.stderr).toContain("gstack config browser");
+    }
+    expect(await fs.stat(path.join(home, "config.json")).catch(() => null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
   test("legacy YAML is read-only migration input and JSON takes authority on write", async () => {
     const home = path.join(await root(), "legacy");
     await fs.mkdir(home);
diff --git a/test/gstack2-runtime-setup-ux.test.ts b/test/gstack2-runtime-setup-ux.test.ts
index 2daba155d..7fd0a6ca2 100644
--- a/test/gstack2-runtime-setup-ux.test.ts
+++ b/test/gstack2-runtime-setup-ux.test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import fs from "node:fs/promises";
 import os from "node:os";
 import path from "node:path";
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
 import { PassThrough, Readable } from "node:stream";
 import { runDoctor } from "../runtime/doctor.js";
 import { runInstallerCli, runtimeSlotVersion, runtimeSurfaceForCapabilities } from "../runtime/install.js";
@@ -49,6 +50,36 @@ function officialManifestFixture(target: string, customize?: (component: string,
   };
 }
 
+async function createActiveRuntimeFixture(home: string, options: {
+  bundleVersion: string;
+  selectedCapabilities: string[];
+  runtimeComponents: string[];
+  browserChoice: { provider: "managed" | "installed"; executablePath: string | null };
+}) {
+  const root = path.join(home, "versions", "active-slot");
+  const payload = Buffer.from("verified active runtime payload\n");
+  await fs.mkdir(root, { recursive: true });
+  await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, "payload.txt"), payload);
+  await fs.writeFile(path.join(root, ".gstack-bundle.json"), JSON.stringify({
+    schemaVersion: 2,
+    version: options.bundleVersion,
+    selectedCapabilities: options.selectedCapabilities,
+    runtimeComponents: options.runtimeComponents,
+    browserChoice: options.browserChoice,
+    files: [{
+      path: "payload.txt",
+      size: payload.byteLength,
+      sha256: createHash("sha256").update(payload).digest("hex"),
+    }],
+  }));
+  await fs.writeFile(path.join(home, "versions", "current.json"), JSON.stringify({
+    schemaVersion: 2,
+    status: "active",
+    current: "active-slot",
+    lastKnownGood: null,
+  }));
+}
+
 describe("GStack runtime setup UX", () => {
   test("capability selection keeps the core and excludes unselected heavyweight surfaces", () => {
     const surface = runtimeSurfaceForCapabilities(["browser"]);
@@ -277,6 +308,32 @@ describe("GStack runtime setup UX", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test("explicit install-later needs no browser selection and does not prompt or mutate", async () => {
+    const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-browser-later-"));
+    try {
+      const home = path.join(root, "home");
+      const output = capture();
+      const input = Readable.from([]) as Readable & { isTTY: boolean };
+      input.isTTY = false;
+      expect(await runInstallerCli([
+        "--source", path.resolve(import.meta.dir, ".."),
+        "--home", home,
+        "--capabilities", "browser",
+        "--install-later",
+        "--json",
+      ], { stdin: input, stdout: output.stream, stderr: output.stream })).toBe(0);
+      expect(JSON.parse(output.value())).toMatchObject({
+        ok: true,
+        action: "install-later",
+        mutated: false,
+        preview: null,
+      });
+      await expect(fs.stat(home)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   test("browser bootstrap options are local-only and browser preview requires an explicit choice", async () => {
     const output = capture();
     let fetches = 0;
@@ -332,6 +389,76 @@ describe("GStack runtime setup UX", () => {
     expect(fetches).toBe(1);
   });
 
+  test("official previews retain an active installed-browser choice across same- and cross-release additions", async () => {
+    const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-bootstrap-retain-browser-"));
+    const executable = await fs.realpath(process.execPath);
+    const target = `${process.platform === "win32" ? "windows" : process.platform}-${process.arch}`;
+    try {
+      for (const [name, bundleVersion, expectsReuse] of [
+        ["same", `${BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION}-caps-installed`, true],
+        ["cross", "1.9.0-caps-installed", false],
+      ] as const) {
+        const home = path.join(root, name);
+        await createActiveRuntimeFixture(home, {
+          bundleVersion,
+          selectedCapabilities: ["browser"],
+          runtimeComponents: ["browser-code", "core"],
+          browserChoice: { provider: "installed", executablePath: executable },
+        });
+        const output = capture();
+        expect(await bootstrapMain([
+          "preview", "--capability", "design", "--home", home, "--json",
+        ], {
+          stdout: output.stream,
+          stderr: output.stream,
+          libc: process.platform === "linux" ? "glibc" : undefined,
+          fetch: async (url: string) => ({ ok: true, url, json: async () => officialManifestFixture(target) }),
+        })).toBe(0);
+        const result = JSON.parse(output.value());
+        expect(result.capabilities).toEqual(["browser", "design"]);
+        expect(result.browser).toEqual({ provider: "installed", executablePath: executable });
+        expect(result.components).toEqual(["browser-code", "core", "design"]);
+        expect(result.components).not.toContain("browser-headless");
+        expect(result.reusedComponents.length > 0).toBe(expectsReuse);
+      }
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
+  test("switching a reusable managed visible slot to installed drops visible payload from the exact plan", async () => {
+    const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-bootstrap-provider-switch-"));
+    const home = path.join(root, "home");
+    const executable = await fs.realpath(process.execPath);
+    const target = `${process.platform === "win32" ? "windows" : process.platform}-${process.arch}`;
+    try {
+      await createActiveRuntimeFixture(home, {
+        bundleVersion: `${BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION}-caps-managed-visible`,
+        selectedCapabilities: ["browser-visible"],
+        runtimeComponents: ["browser-code", "browser-visible", "core"],
+        browserChoice: { provider: "managed", executablePath: null },
+      });
+      const output = capture();
+      expect(await bootstrapMain([
+        "preview", "--capability", "browser", "--browser", "installed",
+        "--browser-path", executable, "--home", home, "--json",
+      ], {
+        stdout: output.stream,
+        stderr: output.stream,
+        libc: process.platform === "linux" ? "glibc" : undefined,
+        fetch: async (url: string) => ({ ok: true, url, json: async () => officialManifestFixture(target) }),
+      })).toBe(0);
+      const result = JSON.parse(output.value());
+      expect(result.capabilities).toEqual(["browser"]);
+      expect(result.browser.provider).toBe("installed");
+      expect(result.components).toEqual(["browser-code", "core"]);
+      expect(result.components).not.toContain("browser-visible");
+      expect(result.components).not.toContain("browser-headless");
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   test("visible GStack Browser refuses installed Chrome before any network request", async () => {
     const output = capture();
     let fetches = 0;
@@ -468,6 +595,43 @@ describe("GStack runtime setup UX", () => {
     }
   });
 
+  test("doctor reports and launches an internal managed visible-browser slot", async () => {
+    const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-doctor-visible-browser-"));
+    const home = path.join(root, "home");
+    try {
+      await setupRuntime({ home, cwd: root });
+      const paths = resolveRuntimePaths({ home });
+      const active = path.join(paths.versions, "fixture");
+      const browserRoot = path.join(active, ".gstack-runtime-browsers");
+      const managedBun = path.join(active, ".gstack-runtime-tools", process.platform === "win32" ? "bun.exe" : "bun");
+      const playwright = path.join(active, "node_modules", "playwright");
+      await fs.mkdir(path.join(browserRoot, "chromium-fixture"), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.mkdir(path.dirname(managedBun), { recursive: true });
+      await fs.mkdir(playwright, { recursive: true });
+      await fs.copyFile(process.execPath, managedBun);
+      if (process.platform !== "win32") await fs.chmod(managedBun, 0o755);
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(playwright, "index.mjs"),
+        `export const chromium = { launch: async ({ headless, channel }) => { if (headless !== true || channel !== "chromium") throw new Error("expected full Chromium channel"); return { version: () => "fixture-visible", close: async () => {} }; } };\n`);
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(active, ".gstack-bundle.json"), JSON.stringify({
+        compatibility: { skillApi: "2.0" },
+        selectedCapabilities: ["browser-visible"],
+        capabilities: { browse: "browse/dist/browse" },
+        tools: { bun: { path: path.relative(active, managedBun).split(path.sep).join("/"), version: "1.3.14" } },
+      }));
+      await fs.writeFile(paths.versionPointer, JSON.stringify({
+        schemaVersion: 2, status: "active", current: "fixture", lastKnownGood: "fixture",
+      }));
+      await configSetBrowserChoice(home, { provider: "managed", executablePath: null });
+      const report = await runDoctor({ home, cwd: root, nodeCommand: process.execPath });
+      expect(report.checks.find((check) => check.id === "capability:browser-visible")).toMatchObject({
+        status: "pass",
+        details: { browserRoot, version: "fixture-visible" },
+      });
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+
   test("doctor launches the explicitly selected installed browser through the same Playwright adapter", async () => {
     const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-doctor-installed-browser-"));
     const home = path.join(root, "home");
@@ -660,9 +824,50 @@ describe("GStack runtime setup UX", () => {
       expect(args).toContain("--yes");
       expect(args).toContain("browser,diagram,pdf");
       expect(args).not.toContain("--prepared");
+      expect(args).toContain("--replace-capabilities");
       expect(output.value()).toContain("Developer-only source install");
     } finally {
       await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
     }
   });
+
+  test("developer source fallback can switch a retained managed visible slot to installed", async () => {
+    const root = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "gstack-bootstrap-source-switch-"));
+    const source = path.join(root, "source");
+    const runtime = path.join(source, "runtime");
+    const home = path.join(root, "home");
+    const log = path.join(root, "args.json");
+    const executable = await fs.realpath(process.execPath);
+    const output = capture();
+    try {
+      await fs.mkdir(runtime, { recursive: true });
+      await fs.writeFile(path.join(runtime, "install.js"),
+        `import fs from "node:fs"; fs.writeFileSync(process.env.BOOTSTRAP_TEST_LOG, JSON.stringify(process.argv.slice(2)));\n`);
+      await createActiveRuntimeFixture(home, {
+        bundleVersion: `${BOOTSTRAP_RUNTIME_VERSION}-caps-managed-visible`,
+        selectedCapabilities: ["browser-visible"],
+        runtimeComponents: ["browser-code", "browser-visible", "core"],
+        browserChoice: { provider: "managed", executablePath: null },
+      });
+      const previous = process.env.BOOTSTRAP_TEST_LOG;
+      process.env.BOOTSTRAP_TEST_LOG = log;
+      try {
+        expect(await bootstrapMain([
+          "install", "--source", source, "--capability", "browser", "--browser", "installed",
+          "--browser-path", executable, "--home", home, "--yes",
+        ], { stdout: output.stream, stderr: output.stream })).toBe(0);
+      } finally {
+        if (previous == null) delete process.env.BOOTSTRAP_TEST_LOG;
+        else process.env.BOOTSTRAP_TEST_LOG = previous;
+      }
+      const args = JSON.parse(await fs.readFile(log, "utf8"));
+      expect(args).toContain("browser");
+      expect(args).toContain("installed");
+      expect(args).toContain(executable);
+      expect(args).toContain("--replace-capabilities");
+      expect(args).not.toContain("browser-visible");
+    } finally {
+      await fs.rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
 });