diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b61503485..859c74a48 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 
 ## 2026.1.23
 
+### Changes
+- CLI: restart the gateway by default after `clawdbot update`; add `--no-restart` to skip it.
+
 ### Fixes
 - Media: preserve PNG alpha when possible; fall back to JPEG when still over size cap. (#1491) Thanks @robbyczgw-cla.
 - Agents: treat plugin-only tool allowlists as opt-ins; keep core tools enabled. (#1467)
diff --git a/docs/cli/update.md b/docs/cli/update.md
index 8dafbbd87..328ca485d 100644
--- a/docs/cli/update.md
+++ b/docs/cli/update.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-summary: "CLI reference for `clawdbot update` (safe-ish source update + optional gateway restart)"
+summary: "CLI reference for `clawdbot update` (safe-ish source update + gateway auto-restart)"
 read_when:
   - You want to update a source checkout safely
   - You need to understand `--update` shorthand behavior
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ clawdbot update wizard
 clawdbot update --channel beta
 clawdbot update --channel dev
 clawdbot update --tag beta
-clawdbot update --restart
+clawdbot update --no-restart
 clawdbot update --json
 clawdbot --update
 ```
 
 ## Options
 
-- `--restart`: restart the Gateway service after a successful update.
+- `--no-restart`: skip restarting the Gateway service after a successful update.
 - `--channel <stable|beta|dev>`: set the update channel (git + npm; persisted in config).
 - `--tag <dist-tag|version>`: override the npm dist-tag or version for this update only.
 - `--json`: print machine-readable `UpdateRunResult` JSON.
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ Options:
 ## `update wizard`
 
 Interactive flow to pick an update channel and confirm whether to restart the Gateway
-after updating. If you select `dev` without a git checkout, it offers to create one.
+after updating (default is to restart). If you select `dev` without a git checkout, it
+offers to create one.
 
 ## What it does
 
diff --git a/docs/install/updating.md b/docs/install/updating.md
index f0efcae2a..1d39fa6e4 100644
--- a/docs/install/updating.md
+++ b/docs/install/updating.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ read_when:
 
 # Updating
 
-Clawdbot is moving fast (pre “1.0”). Treat updates like shipping infra: update → run checks → restart → verify.
+Clawdbot is moving fast (pre “1.0”). Treat updates like shipping infra: update → run checks → restart (or use `clawdbot update`, which restarts) → verify.
 
 ## Recommended: re-run the website installer (upgrade in place)
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Notes:
 For **source installs** (git checkout), prefer:
 
 ```bash
-clawdbot update --restart
+clawdbot update
 ```
 
 It runs a safe-ish update flow:
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ It runs a safe-ish update flow:
 - Switches to the selected channel (tag or branch).
 - Fetches + rebases against the configured upstream (dev channel).
 - Installs deps, builds, builds the Control UI, and runs `clawdbot doctor`.
+- Restarts the gateway by default (use `--no-restart` to skip).
 
 If you installed via **npm/pnpm** (no git metadata), `clawdbot update` will try to update via your package manager. If it can’t detect the install, use “Update (global install)” instead.
 
diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
index 2c7aca4f3..40347d3e2 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli.test.ts
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ describe("update-cli", () => {
     expect(defaultRuntime.exit).toHaveBeenCalledWith(1);
   });
 
-  it("updateCommand restarts daemon when --restart is set", async () => {
+  it("updateCommand restarts daemon by default", async () => {
     const { runGatewayUpdate } = await import("../infra/update-runner.js");
     const { runDaemonRestart } = await import("./daemon-cli.js");
     const { updateCommand } = await import("./update-cli.js");
@@ -430,11 +430,30 @@ describe("update-cli", () => {
     vi.mocked(runGatewayUpdate).mockResolvedValue(mockResult);
     vi.mocked(runDaemonRestart).mockResolvedValue(true);
 
-    await updateCommand({ restart: true });
+    await updateCommand({});
 
     expect(runDaemonRestart).toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it("updateCommand skips restart when --no-restart is set", async () => {
+    const { runGatewayUpdate } = await import("../infra/update-runner.js");
+    const { runDaemonRestart } = await import("./daemon-cli.js");
+    const { updateCommand } = await import("./update-cli.js");
+
+    const mockResult: UpdateRunResult = {
+      status: "ok",
+      mode: "git",
+      steps: [],
+      durationMs: 100,
+    };
+
+    vi.mocked(runGatewayUpdate).mockResolvedValue(mockResult);
+
+    await updateCommand({ restart: false });
+
+    expect(runDaemonRestart).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it("updateCommand skips success message when restart does not run", async () => {
     const { runGatewayUpdate } = await import("../infra/update-runner.js");
     const { runDaemonRestart } = await import("./daemon-cli.js");
diff --git a/src/cli/update-cli.ts b/src/cli/update-cli.ts
index 538d07c97..9e597e485 100644
--- a/src/cli/update-cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli/update-cli.ts
@@ -553,6 +553,7 @@ export async function updateCommand(opts: UpdateCommandOptions): Promise<void> {
   process.noDeprecation = true;
   process.env.NODE_NO_WARNINGS = "1";
   const timeoutMs = opts.timeout ? Number.parseInt(opts.timeout, 10) * 1000 : undefined;
+  const shouldRestart = opts.restart !== false;
 
   if (timeoutMs !== undefined && (Number.isNaN(timeoutMs) || timeoutMs <= 0)) {
     defaultRuntime.error("--timeout must be a positive integer (seconds)");
@@ -898,7 +899,7 @@ export async function updateCommand(opts: UpdateCommandOptions): Promise<void> {
   }
 
   // Restart service if requested
-  if (opts.restart) {
+  if (shouldRestart) {
     if (!opts.json) {
       defaultRuntime.log("");
       defaultRuntime.log(theme.heading("Restarting service..."));
@@ -1068,7 +1069,7 @@ export async function updateWizardCommand(opts: UpdateWizardOptions = {}): Promi
 
   const restart = await confirm({
     message: stylePromptMessage("Restart the gateway service after update?"),
-    initialValue: false,
+    initialValue: true,
   });
   if (isCancel(restart)) {
     defaultRuntime.log(theme.muted("Update cancelled."));
@@ -1093,7 +1094,7 @@ export function registerUpdateCli(program: Command) {
     .command("update")
     .description("Update Clawdbot to the latest version")
     .option("--json", "Output result as JSON", false)
-    .option("--restart", "Restart the gateway service after a successful update", false)
+    .option("--no-restart", "Skip restarting the gateway service after a successful update")
     .option("--channel <stable|beta|dev>", "Persist update channel (git + npm)")
     .option("--tag <dist-tag|version>", "Override npm dist-tag or version for this update")
     .option("--timeout <seconds>", "Timeout for each update step in seconds (default: 1200)")
@@ -1104,7 +1105,7 @@ export function registerUpdateCli(program: Command) {
         ["clawdbot update --channel beta", "Switch to beta channel (git + npm)"],
         ["clawdbot update --channel dev", "Switch to dev channel (git + npm)"],
         ["clawdbot update --tag beta", "One-off update to a dist-tag or version"],
-        ["clawdbot update --restart", "Update and restart the service"],
+        ["clawdbot update --no-restart", "Update without restarting the service"],
         ["clawdbot update --json", "Output result as JSON"],
         ["clawdbot update --yes", "Non-interactive (accept downgrade prompts)"],
         ["clawdbot update wizard", "Interactive update wizard"],