diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 109682962..a4e5b9e10 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ If set, CLAWDIS derives defaults (only when you haven’t set them explicitly):
 - Console output can be tuned separately via:
   - `logging.consoleLevel` (defaults to `info`, bumps to `debug` when `--verbose`)
   - `logging.consoleStyle` (`pretty` | `compact` | `json`)
-  - `logging.consoleColor` (`auto` | `always` | `never`)
 
 ```json5
 {
@@ -57,8 +56,7 @@ If set, CLAWDIS derives defaults (only when you haven’t set them explicitly):
     level: "info",
     file: "/tmp/clawdis/clawdis.log",
     consoleLevel: "info",
-    consoleStyle: "pretty",
-    consoleColor: "auto"
+    consoleStyle: "pretty"
   }
 }
 ```
diff --git a/docs/logging.md b/docs/logging.md
index 7997b3faf..cb8731aa9 100644
--- a/docs/logging.md
+++ b/docs/logging.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Behavior:
 
 - **Subsystem prefixes** on every line (e.g. `[gateway]`, `[canvas]`, `[tailscale]`)
 - **Subsystem colors** (stable per subsystem) plus level coloring
-- **Color modes** (`logging.consoleColor`: `auto`/`always`/`never`; `auto` honors `NO_COLOR` and TTY)
+- **Color only when TTY** (`process.stdout.isTTY`/`process.stderr.isTTY`), respects `NO_COLOR`
 - **Sub-loggers by subsystem** (auto prefix + structured field `{ subsystem }`)
 - **`logRaw()`** for QR/UX output (no prefix, no formatting)
 - **Console styles** (e.g. `pretty | compact | json`)
diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index 5371c8d9f..9f0bb55ea 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ export type LoggingConfig = {
     | "debug"
     | "trace";
   consoleStyle?: "pretty" | "compact" | "json";
-  consoleColor?: "auto" | "always" | "never";
 };
 
 export type WebReconnectConfig = {
@@ -270,9 +269,6 @@ const ClawdisSchema = z.object({
       consoleStyle: z
         .union([z.literal("pretty"), z.literal("compact"), z.literal("json")])
         .optional(),
-      consoleColor: z
-        .union([z.literal("auto"), z.literal("always"), z.literal("never")])
-        .optional(),
     })
     .optional(),
   browser: z
diff --git a/src/logging.ts b/src/logging.ts
index 5a671e564..83ba62af0 100644
--- a/src/logging.ts
+++ b/src/logging.ts
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ export type LoggerSettings = {
   file?: string;
   consoleLevel?: Level;
   consoleStyle?: ConsoleStyle;
-  consoleColor?: ConsoleColor;
 };
 
 type LogObj = { date?: Date } & Record<string, unknown>;
@@ -46,11 +45,9 @@ type ResolvedSettings = {
 export type LoggerResolvedSettings = ResolvedSettings;
 
 export type ConsoleStyle = "pretty" | "compact" | "json";
-export type ConsoleColor = "auto" | "always" | "never";
 type ConsoleSettings = {
   level: Level;
   style: ConsoleStyle;
-  color: ConsoleColor;
 };
 export type ConsoleLoggerSettings = ConsoleSettings;
 
@@ -90,8 +87,7 @@ function resolveConsoleSettings(): ConsoleSettings {
     overrideSettings ?? loadConfig().logging;
   const level = normalizeConsoleLevel(cfg?.consoleLevel);
   const style = normalizeConsoleStyle(cfg?.consoleStyle);
-  const color = normalizeConsoleColor(cfg?.consoleColor);
-  return { level, style, color };
+  return { level, style };
 }
 
 function settingsChanged(a: ResolvedSettings | null, b: ResolvedSettings) {
@@ -104,7 +100,7 @@ function consoleSettingsChanged(
   b: ConsoleSettings,
 ) {
   if (!a) return true;
-  return a.level !== b.level || a.style !== b.style || a.color !== b.color;
+  return a.level !== b.level || a.style !== b.style;
 }
 
 function levelToMinLevel(level: Level): number {
@@ -137,13 +133,6 @@ function normalizeConsoleStyle(style?: string): ConsoleStyle {
   return "pretty";
 }
 
-function normalizeConsoleColor(color?: string): ConsoleColor {
-  if (color === "auto" || color === "always" || color === "never") {
-    return color;
-  }
-  return "auto";
-}
-
 function buildLogger(settings: ResolvedSettings): TsLogger<LogObj> {
   fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(settings.file), { recursive: true });
   // Clean up stale rolling logs when using a dated log filename.
@@ -350,14 +339,10 @@ function shouldLogToConsole(level: Level, settings: ConsoleSettings): boolean {
   return current <= min;
 }
 
-function getColorForConsole(mode: ConsoleColor): Chalk {
-  if (mode === "never") return new Chalk({ level: 0 });
-  if (mode === "always") return new Chalk({ level: 1 });
-  const supports =
-    process.stdout.isTTY &&
-    !process.env.NO_COLOR &&
-    Boolean(chalk.supportsColor);
-  return supports ? chalk : new Chalk({ level: 0 });
+function getColorForConsole(): Chalk {
+  if (process.env.NO_COLOR) return new Chalk({ level: 0 });
+  const hasTty = Boolean(process.stdout.isTTY || process.stderr.isTTY);
+  return hasTty ? new Chalk({ level: 1 }) : new Chalk({ level: 0 });
 }
 
 const SUBSYSTEM_COLORS = [
@@ -384,7 +369,6 @@ function formatConsoleLine(opts: {
   subsystem: string;
   message: string;
   style: ConsoleStyle;
-  colorMode: ConsoleColor;
   meta?: Record<string, unknown>;
 }): string {
   if (opts.style === "json") {
@@ -396,7 +380,7 @@ function formatConsoleLine(opts: {
       ...opts.meta,
     });
   }
-  const color = getColorForConsole(opts.colorMode);
+  const color = getColorForConsole();
   const prefix = `[${opts.subsystem}]`;
   const prefixColor = pickSubsystemColor(color, opts.subsystem);
   const levelColor =
@@ -455,7 +439,6 @@ export function createSubsystemLogger(subsystem: string): SubsystemLogger {
       subsystem,
       message,
       style: consoleSettings.style,
-      colorMode: consoleSettings.color,
       meta,
     });
     writeConsoleLine(level, line);