diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/group-mentions.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/group-mentions.ts
index d548bc6f4..e2696d3c5 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/group-mentions.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/group-mentions.ts
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ export function resolveMatrixGroupRequireMention(params: ChannelGroupContext): b
   if (roomId.toLowerCase().startsWith("room:")) {
     roomId = roomId.slice("room:".length).trim();
   }
-  const groupRoom = params.groupRoom?.trim() ?? "";
-  const aliases = groupRoom ? [groupRoom] : [];
+  const groupChannel = params.groupChannel?.trim() ?? "";
+  const aliases = groupChannel ? [groupChannel] : [];
   const cfg = params.cfg as CoreConfig;
   const resolved = resolveMatrixRoomConfig({
     rooms: cfg.channels?.matrix?.rooms,
     roomId,
     aliases,
-    name: groupRoom || undefined,
+    name: groupChannel || undefined,
   }).config;
   if (resolved) {
     if (resolved.autoReply === true) return false;
diff --git a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
index dc97c2f5f..5e2192bc9 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ export async function monitorMatrixProvider(opts: MonitorMatrixOpts = {}): Promi
         SenderId: senderId,
         SenderUsername: senderId.split(":")[0]?.replace(/^@/, ""),
         GroupSubject: isRoom ? (roomName ?? roomId) : undefined,
-        GroupRoom: isRoom ? (room.getCanonicalAlias?.() ?? roomId) : undefined,
+        GroupChannel: isRoom ? (room.getCanonicalAlias?.() ?? roomId) : undefined,
         GroupSystemPrompt: isRoom ? groupSystemPrompt : undefined,
         Provider: "matrix" as const,
         Surface: "matrix" as const,
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.test.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.test.ts
index 831a4ac4e..5db0601e1 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.test.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.test.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ describe("resolveGroupRequireMention", () => {
     const ctx: TemplateContext = {
       Provider: "discord",
       From: "group:123",
-      GroupRoom: "#general",
+      GroupChannel: "#general",
       GroupSpace: "145",
     };
     const groupResolution: GroupKeyResolution = {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.ts
index eb0302dcf..0897f32dd 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/groups.ts
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ export function resolveGroupRequireMention(params: {
   const channel = normalizeChannelId(rawChannel);
   if (!channel) return true;
   const groupId = groupResolution?.id ?? ctx.From?.replace(/^group:/, "");
-  const groupRoom = ctx.GroupRoom?.trim() ?? ctx.GroupSubject?.trim();
+  const groupChannel = ctx.GroupChannel?.trim() ?? ctx.GroupSubject?.trim();
   const groupSpace = ctx.GroupSpace?.trim();
   const requireMention = getChannelDock(channel)?.groups?.resolveRequireMention?.({
     cfg,
     groupId,
-    groupRoom,
+    groupChannel,
     groupSpace,
     accountId: ctx.AccountId,
   });
@@ -62,13 +62,13 @@ export function buildGroupIntro(params: {
       ? "Activation: always-on (you receive every group message)."
       : "Activation: trigger-only (you are invoked only when explicitly mentioned; recent context may be included).";
   const groupId = params.sessionCtx.From?.replace(/^group:/, "");
-  const groupRoom = params.sessionCtx.GroupRoom?.trim() ?? subject;
+  const groupChannel = params.sessionCtx.GroupChannel?.trim() ?? subject;
   const groupSpace = params.sessionCtx.GroupSpace?.trim();
   const providerIdsLine = providerId
     ? getChannelDock(providerId)?.groups?.resolveGroupIntroHint?.({
         cfg: params.cfg,
         groupId,
-        groupRoom,
+        groupChannel,
         groupSpace,
         accountId: params.sessionCtx.AccountId,
       })
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply/session.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply/session.ts
index bd5accd88..2d42f0f6d 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply/session.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply/session.ts
@@ -242,14 +242,19 @@ export async function initSessionState(params: {
     const channel = groupResolution.channel;
     const subject = ctx.GroupSubject?.trim();
     const space = ctx.GroupSpace?.trim();
-    const explicitRoom = ctx.GroupRoom?.trim();
+    const explicitChannel = ctx.GroupChannel?.trim();
     const normalizedChannel = normalizeChannelId(channel);
-    const isRoomProvider = Boolean(
+    const isChannelProvider = Boolean(
       normalizedChannel &&
       getChannelDock(normalizedChannel)?.capabilities.chatTypes.includes("channel"),
     );
     const nextRoom =
-      explicitRoom ?? (isRoomProvider && subject && subject.startsWith("#") ? subject : undefined);
+      explicitChannel ??
+      ((groupResolution.chatType === "channel" || isChannelProvider) &&
+      subject &&
+      subject.startsWith("#")
+        ? subject
+        : undefined);
     const nextSubject = nextRoom ? undefined : subject;
     sessionEntry.chatType = groupResolution.chatType ?? "group";
     sessionEntry.channel = channel;
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/templating.ts b/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
index 74146c250..c77dedd2c 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/templating.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ export type MsgContext = {
   /** Human label for envelope headers (conversation label, not sender). */
   ConversationLabel?: string;
   GroupSubject?: string;
-  GroupRoom?: string;
+  /** Human label for channel-like group conversations (e.g. #general, #support). */
+  GroupChannel?: string;
   GroupSpace?: string;
   GroupMembers?: string;
   GroupSystemPrompt?: string;
diff --git a/src/channels/conversation-label.ts b/src/channels/conversation-label.ts
index 97434fa89..fb4719779 100644
--- a/src/channels/conversation-label.ts
+++ b/src/channels/conversation-label.ts
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export function resolveConversationLabel(ctx: MsgContext): string | undefined {
   }
 
   const base =
-    ctx.GroupRoom?.trim() ||
+    ctx.GroupChannel?.trim() ||
     ctx.GroupSubject?.trim() ||
     ctx.GroupSpace?.trim() ||
     ctx.From?.trim() ||
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/group-mentions.ts b/src/channels/plugins/group-mentions.ts
index 24f167a22..ec38ca85d 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/group-mentions.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/group-mentions.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import { resolveSlackAccount } from "../../slack/accounts.js";
 type GroupMentionParams = {
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
   groupId?: string | null;
-  groupRoom?: string | null;
+  groupChannel?: string | null;
   groupSpace?: string | null;
   accountId?: string | null;
 };
@@ -133,13 +133,14 @@ export function resolveDiscordGroupRequireMention(params: GroupMentionParams): b
   );
   const channelEntries = guildEntry?.channels;
   if (channelEntries && Object.keys(channelEntries).length > 0) {
-    const channelSlug = normalizeDiscordSlug(params.groupRoom);
+    const groupChannel = params.groupChannel;
+    const channelSlug = normalizeDiscordSlug(groupChannel);
     const entry =
       (params.groupId ? channelEntries[params.groupId] : undefined) ??
       (channelSlug
         ? (channelEntries[channelSlug] ?? channelEntries[`#${channelSlug}`])
         : undefined) ??
-      (params.groupRoom ? channelEntries[normalizeDiscordSlug(params.groupRoom)] : undefined);
+      (groupChannel ? channelEntries[normalizeDiscordSlug(groupChannel)] : undefined);
     if (entry && typeof entry.requireMention === "boolean") {
       return entry.requireMention;
     }
@@ -159,7 +160,8 @@ export function resolveSlackGroupRequireMention(params: GroupMentionParams): boo
   const keys = Object.keys(channels);
   if (keys.length === 0) return true;
   const channelId = params.groupId?.trim();
-  const channelName = params.groupRoom?.replace(/^#/, "");
+  const groupChannel = params.groupChannel;
+  const channelName = groupChannel?.replace(/^#/, "");
   const normalizedName = normalizeSlackSlug(channelName);
   const candidates = [
     channelId ?? "",
diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts b/src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts
index dad18d3cf..e8b912922 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/types.core.ts
@@ -133,7 +133,8 @@ export type ChannelLogSink = {
 export type ChannelGroupContext = {
   cfg: ClawdbotConfig;
   groupId?: string | null;
-  groupRoom?: string | null;
+  /** Human label for channel-like group conversations (e.g. #general). */
+  groupChannel?: string | null;
   groupSpace?: string | null;
   accountId?: string | null;
 };
diff --git a/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts b/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
index d669cf4dd..164bd41c3 100644
--- a/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
+++ b/src/discord/monitor/message-handler.process.ts
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ export async function processDiscordMessage(ctx: DiscordMessagePreflightContext)
     senderDisplay && senderTag && senderDisplay !== senderTag
       ? `${senderDisplay} (${senderTag})`
       : (senderDisplay ?? senderTag ?? author.id);
-  const groupRoom = isGuildMessage && displayChannelSlug ? `#${displayChannelSlug}` : undefined;
-  const groupSubject = isDirectMessage ? undefined : groupRoom;
+  const groupChannel = isGuildMessage && displayChannelSlug ? `#${displayChannelSlug}` : undefined;
+  const groupSubject = isDirectMessage ? undefined : groupChannel;
   const channelDescription = channelInfo?.topic?.trim();
   const systemPromptParts = [
     channelDescription ? `Channel topic: ${channelDescription}` : null,
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ export async function processDiscordMessage(ctx: DiscordMessagePreflightContext)
     SenderUsername: author.username,
     SenderTag: formatDiscordUserTag(author),
     GroupSubject: groupSubject,
-    GroupRoom: groupRoom,
+    GroupChannel: groupChannel,
     GroupSystemPrompt: isGuildMessage ? groupSystemPrompt : undefined,
     GroupSpace: isGuildMessage ? (guildInfo?.id ?? guildSlug) || undefined : undefined,
     Provider: "discord" as const,
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor.test.ts b/src/slack/monitor.test.ts
index 65eb998e7..e4aa58192 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor.test.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor.test.ts
@@ -2,14 +2,14 @@ import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import {
   buildSlackSlashCommandMatcher,
-  isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy,
+  isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy,
   resolveSlackThreadTs,
 } from "./monitor.js";
 
 describe("slack groupPolicy gating", () => {
   it("allows when policy is open", () => {
     expect(
-      isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+      isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "open",
         channelAllowlistConfigured: false,
         channelAllowed: false,
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ describe("slack groupPolicy gating", () => {
 
   it("blocks when policy is disabled", () => {
     expect(
-      isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+      isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "disabled",
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: true,
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ describe("slack groupPolicy gating", () => {
 
   it("blocks allowlist when no channel allowlist configured", () => {
     expect(
-      isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+      isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
         channelAllowlistConfigured: false,
         channelAllowed: true,
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ describe("slack groupPolicy gating", () => {
 
   it("allows allowlist when channel is allowed", () => {
     expect(
-      isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+      isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: true,
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe("slack groupPolicy gating", () => {
 
   it("blocks allowlist when channel is not allowed", () => {
     expect(
-      isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+      isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
         groupPolicy: "allowlist",
         channelAllowlistConfigured: true,
         channelAllowed: false,
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor.ts b/src/slack/monitor.ts
index 8462a2ea4..95b584eb3 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 export { buildSlackSlashCommandMatcher } from "./monitor/commands.js";
-export { isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy } from "./monitor/policy.js";
+export { isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy } from "./monitor/policy.js";
 export { monitorSlackProvider } from "./monitor/provider.js";
 export { resolveSlackThreadTs } from "./monitor/replies.js";
 export type { MonitorSlackOpts } from "./monitor/types.js";
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor/context.ts b/src/slack/monitor/context.ts
index 4120a068e..855908a5e 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor/context.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor/context.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import type { SlackMessageEvent } from "../types.js";
 
 import { normalizeAllowList, normalizeAllowListLower, normalizeSlackSlug } from "./allow-list.js";
 import { resolveSlackChannelConfig } from "./channel-config.js";
-import { isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy } from "./policy.js";
+import { isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy } from "./policy.js";
 
 export function inferSlackChannelType(
   channelId?: string | null,
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ export function createSlackMonitorContext(params: {
       const channelAllowlistConfigured =
         Boolean(params.channelsConfig) && Object.keys(params.channelsConfig ?? {}).length > 0;
       if (
-        !isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+        !isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
           groupPolicy: params.groupPolicy,
           channelAllowlistConfigured,
           channelAllowed,
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor/policy.ts b/src/slack/monitor/policy.ts
index 9832199ea..a4ac37917 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor/policy.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor/policy.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export function isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy(params: {
+export function isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy(params: {
   groupPolicy: "open" | "disabled" | "allowlist";
   channelAllowlistConfigured: boolean;
   channelAllowed: boolean;
diff --git a/src/slack/monitor/slash.ts b/src/slack/monitor/slash.ts
index b84da205d..6e1e0f684 100644
--- a/src/slack/monitor/slash.ts
+++ b/src/slack/monitor/slash.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import {
 import { resolveSlackChannelConfig, type SlackChannelConfigResolved } from "./channel-config.js";
 import { buildSlackSlashCommandMatcher, resolveSlackSlashCommandConfig } from "./commands.js";
 import type { SlackMonitorContext } from "./context.js";
-import { isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy } from "./policy.js";
+import { isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy } from "./policy.js";
 import { deliverSlackSlashReplies } from "./replies.js";
 
 type SlackBlock = { type: string; [key: string]: unknown };
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ export function registerSlackMonitorSlashCommands(params: {
             Boolean(ctx.channelsConfig) && Object.keys(ctx.channelsConfig ?? {}).length > 0;
           const channelAllowed = channelConfig?.allowed !== false;
           if (
-            !isSlackRoomAllowedByPolicy({
+            !isSlackChannelAllowedByPolicy({
               groupPolicy: ctx.groupPolicy,
               channelAllowlistConfigured,
               channelAllowed,