diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 59f3ab556..5975c6ea9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ Docs: https://docs.clawd.bot
 
 ### Fixes
 - BlueBubbles: stop typing indicator on idle/no-reply. (#1439) Thanks @Nicell.
+- Message tool: keep path/filePath as-is for send; hydrate buffers only for sendAttachment. (#1444) Thanks @hopyky.
 - Auto-reply: only report a model switch when session state is available. (#1465) Thanks @robbyczgw-cla.
 - Control UI: resolve local avatar URLs with basePath across injection + identity RPC. (#1457) Thanks @dlauer.
 - Agents: surface concrete API error details instead of generic AI service errors.
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/message-tool.test.ts b/src/agents/tools/message-tool.test.ts
index b1f887813..375b6ccb0 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/message-tool.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/message-tool.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,64 @@ describe("message tool mirroring", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("message tool path passthrough", () => {
+  it("does not convert path to media for send", async () => {
+    mocks.runMessageAction.mockClear();
+    mocks.runMessageAction.mockResolvedValue({
+      kind: "send",
+      action: "send",
+      channel: "telegram",
+      to: "telegram:123",
+      handledBy: "plugin",
+      payload: {},
+      dryRun: true,
+    } satisfies MessageActionRunResult);
+
+    const tool = createMessageTool({
+      config: {} as never,
+    });
+
+    await tool.execute("1", {
+      action: "send",
+      target: "telegram:123",
+      path: "~/Downloads/voice.ogg",
+      message: "",
+    });
+
+    const call = mocks.runMessageAction.mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+    expect(call?.params?.path).toBe("~/Downloads/voice.ogg");
+    expect(call?.params?.media).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("does not convert filePath to media for send", async () => {
+    mocks.runMessageAction.mockClear();
+    mocks.runMessageAction.mockResolvedValue({
+      kind: "send",
+      action: "send",
+      channel: "telegram",
+      to: "telegram:123",
+      handledBy: "plugin",
+      payload: {},
+      dryRun: true,
+    } satisfies MessageActionRunResult);
+
+    const tool = createMessageTool({
+      config: {} as never,
+    });
+
+    await tool.execute("1", {
+      action: "send",
+      target: "telegram:123",
+      filePath: "./tmp/note.m4a",
+      message: "",
+    });
+
+    const call = mocks.runMessageAction.mock.calls[0]?.[0];
+    expect(call?.params?.filePath).toBe("./tmp/note.m4a");
+    expect(call?.params?.media).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
+
 describe("message tool description", () => {
   const bluebubblesPlugin: ChannelPlugin = {
     id: "bluebubbles",
diff --git a/src/agents/tools/message-tool.ts b/src/agents/tools/message-tool.ts
index 19cdb122d..4ab3c7e18 100644
--- a/src/agents/tools/message-tool.ts
+++ b/src/agents/tools/message-tool.ts
@@ -341,15 +341,6 @@ export function createMessageTool(options?: MessageToolOptions): AnyAgentTool {
         required: true,
       }) as ChannelMessageActionName;
 
-      // Handle path and filePath parameters: convert to media with file:// URL
-      if (action === "send" && !params.media) {
-        const filePath =
-          (params.path as string | undefined) || (params.filePath as string | undefined);
-        if (filePath) {
-          params.media = filePath.startsWith("file://") ? filePath : `file://${filePath}`;
-        }
-      }
-
       const accountId = readStringParam(params, "accountId") ?? agentAccountId;
 
       const gateway = {
diff --git a/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts b/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
index aef11c09c..dc8aeddf3 100644
--- a/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
+++ b/src/infra/outbound/message-action-runner.ts
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ async function hydrateSendAttachmentParams(params: {
   action: ChannelMessageActionName;
   dryRun?: boolean;
 }): Promise<void> {
-  if (params.action !== "sendAttachment" && params.action !== "send") return;
+  if (params.action !== "sendAttachment") return;
 
   const mediaHint = readStringParam(params.args, "media", { trim: false });
   const fileHint =