feat: add scan mode so conversations stay in sync without sending

Stopping the bot previously halted conversation syncing too. On the
multi-account path the run-flag check sat above both the reply-sync and
response-check branches, so a stop left only MediaSyncService's coarse
30-minute chat refresh. The legacy single-account path did the opposite
and kept syncing while stopped — one boolean meaning two things.

Replace the boolean with an explicit three-way mode:

  running — discover, screen, send, automate replies
  scan    — refresh chats, detect replies, check responses; send nothing
             and discover nothing; actionable replies surface as backlog
  stopped — everything halts, including background media sync

scan differs from browser.dryRun, which still discovers and pays for AI
screening before suppressing the send.

The mode persists in runtime_state.bot_mode; a migration backfills it
from bot_running, and rows written by an older build still read
correctly. Both loops now gate on the mode, the account runtime loop
reconciles background media sync on transitions only, and the dashboard
and agent API expose all three states.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/dashboard/src/api/client.ts

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import {
   botStatsSchema,
   controlResponseSchema,
   timersSchema,
+  type BotMode,
   type BotStats,
   type ControlResponse,
   type Timers,
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ async function parseResponse<T>(response: Response, schema: ZodType<T>): Promise
 export interface DashboardApi {
   getStats(): Promise<BotStats>;
   getTimers(): Promise<Timers>;
-  setRunning(isRunning: boolean): Promise<ControlResponse>;
+  setMode(mode: BotMode): Promise<ControlResponse>;
 }
 
 export function createDashboardApi(fetchImplementation?: typeof fetch): DashboardApi {
@@ -49,9 +50,15 @@ export function createDashboardApi(fetchImplementation?: typeof fetch): Dashboar
     async getTimers() {
       return parseResponse(await request('/api/timers'), timersSchema);
     },
-    async setRunning(isRunning) {
+    async setMode(mode) {
-      const endpoint = isRunning ? '/api/start' : '/api/stop';
+      return parseResponse(
-      return parseResponse(await request(endpoint, { method: 'POST' }), controlResponseSchema);
+        await request('/api/mode', {
+          method: 'POST',
+          headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+          body: JSON.stringify({ mode }),
+        }),
+        controlResponseSchema,
+      );
     },
   };
 }

apps/dashboard/src/api/contracts.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ export {
 } from '../../../../packages/api-contracts/src/index.js';
 
 export type {
+  BotMode,
   ControlResponse,
   StatsResponse as BotStats,
   TimersResponse as Timers,

apps/dashboard/src/api/queries.ts

@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ export function useTimersQuery() {
   return useQuery({ queryKey: dashboardQueryKeys.timers, queryFn: dashboardApi.getTimers, refetchInterval: 15_000 });
 }
 
-export function useSetRunningMutation() {
+export function useSetModeMutation() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   return useMutation({
-    mutationFn: dashboardApi.setRunning,
+    mutationFn: dashboardApi.setMode,
     onSuccess(response) {
       queryClient.setQueryData<BotStats>(dashboardQueryKeys.stats, (current) =>
-        current ? { ...current, isRunning: response.running } : current,
+        current ? { ...current, isRunning: response.running, mode: response.mode } : current,
       );
     },
   });

apps/dashboard/src/app/shell-status-panel.tsx

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
-import { useStatsQuery, useSetRunningMutation } from '../api/queries.js';
+import { useStatsQuery, useSetModeMutation } from '../api/queries.js';
+import type { BotMode } from '../api/contracts.js';
 import { ConfirmationDialog } from '../components/confirmation-dialog.js';
 import { useSyncStatusQuery } from '../features/operations/operations-queries.js';
 import { useLoginStatusQuery } from '../features/settings/settings-queries.js';
@@ -12,15 +13,15 @@ export function ShellStatusPanel() {
   const reddit = useLoginStatusQuery();
   const sync = useSyncStatusQuery();
   const realtime = useDashboardRealtime();
-  const control = useSetRunningMutation();
+  const control = useSetModeMutation();
-  const [confirming, setConfirming] = useState<'start' | 'stop' | null>(null);
+  const [confirming, setConfirming] = useState<BotMode | null>(null);
   const status = deriveShellStatus({ stats: stats.data, reddit: reddit.data, sync: sync.data, realtime: realtime.connection });
   return <>
     <section aria-label="Platform status" className="shell-status">
       <strong>{status.bot}</strong><span>{status.reddit}</span><span>{status.realtime}</span><span>{status.sync}</span>
       {status.cooldown ? <span className="shell-warning">Cooldown: {status.cooldown}</span> : null}
-      <button aria-label={`${status.controlAction === 'start' ? 'Start' : 'Stop'} bot from global status`} className={status.controlAction === 'start' ? 'button primary' : 'button danger'} disabled={status.controlDisabled || control.isPending} onClick={() => setConfirming(status.controlAction)} type="button">{status.controlAction === 'start' ? 'Start bot' : 'Stop bot'}</button>
+      <button aria-label={`${status.controlAction === 'running' ? 'Start' : 'Stop'} bot from global status`} className={status.controlAction === 'running' ? 'button primary' : 'button danger'} disabled={status.controlDisabled || control.isPending} onClick={() => setConfirming(status.controlAction)} type="button">{status.controlAction === 'running' ? 'Start bot' : 'Stop bot'}</button>
     </section>
-    {confirming ? <ConfirmationDialog action={confirming} isPending={control.isPending} onCancel={() => setConfirming(null)} onConfirm={() => control.mutate(confirming === 'start', { onSuccess: () => setConfirming(null) })} /> : null}
+    {confirming ? <ConfirmationDialog action={confirming} isPending={control.isPending} onCancel={() => setConfirming(null)} onConfirm={() => control.mutate(confirming, { onSuccess: () => setConfirming(null) })} /> : null}
   </>;
 }

apps/dashboard/src/app/shell-status.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,14 @@
 import type { RealtimeConnectionSnapshot } from '../features/operations/realtime-client.js';
+import type { BotMode } from '../api/contracts.js';
+
+const MODE_LABEL: Record<BotMode, string> = {
+  running: 'Running',
+  scan: 'Scanning',
+  stopped: 'Stopped',
+};
 
 interface ShellStatusInput {
-  stats?: { isRunning: boolean; dryRunMode: boolean; invitationCooldown: { reason: string } | null };
+  stats?: { mode: BotMode; dryRunMode: boolean; invitationCooldown: { reason: string } | null };
   reddit?: { ready: boolean; loggedIn?: boolean; status?: string; error?: string };
   realtime: RealtimeConnectionSnapshot;
   sync?: { syncing: boolean; syncingKind?: string | null };
@@ -13,7 +20,7 @@ export interface ShellStatus {
   realtime: string;
   cooldown: string | null;
   sync: string;
-  controlAction: 'start' | 'stop';
+  controlAction: BotMode;
   controlDisabled: boolean;
 }
 
@@ -28,12 +35,14 @@ export function deriveShellStatus(input: ShellStatusInput): ShellStatus {
     ? input.reddit.loggedIn ? `Reddit ${input.reddit.status ?? 'authenticated'}` : 'Reddit login required'
     : 'Reddit session unavailable';
   return {
-    bot: stats ? `${stats.isRunning ? 'Running' : 'Stopped'}${stats.dryRunMode ? ' (dry run)' : ''}` : 'Bot state unavailable',
+    bot: stats ? `${MODE_LABEL[stats.mode]}${stats.dryRunMode ? ' (dry run)' : ''}` : 'Bot state unavailable',
     reddit,
     realtime,
     cooldown: stats?.invitationCooldown?.reason ?? null,
     sync: input.sync?.syncing ? `${sentence(input.sync.syncingKind ?? 'unknown')} sync active` : 'No active sync',
-    controlAction: stats?.isRunning ? 'stop' : 'start',
+    // The header's single control is the opposite of wherever we are now;
+    // scan mode's natural next step is a full start.
+    controlAction: stats?.mode === 'running' ? 'stopped' : 'running',
     controlDisabled: stats === undefined,
   };
 }

apps/dashboard/src/components/confirmation-dialog.tsx

@@ -1,32 +1,50 @@
+import type { BotMode } from '../api/contracts.js';
 import { Modal } from './modal.js';
 
 interface ConfirmationDialogProps {
-  action: 'start' | 'stop';
+  action: BotMode;
   errorMessage?: string | null;
   isPending: boolean;
   onCancel(): void;
   onConfirm(): void;
 }
 
+const copy: Record<BotMode, { title: string; body: string; confirm: string; tone: string }> = {
+  running: {
+    title: 'Start bot?',
+    body: 'The bot will resume automated processing.',
+    confirm: 'Confirm start',
+    tone: 'button primary',
+  },
+  scan: {
+    title: 'Switch to scan mode?',
+    body: 'Conversations stay in sync and replies are flagged for you, but nothing is sent and no new candidates are discovered.',
+    confirm: 'Confirm scan mode',
+    tone: 'button secondary',
+  },
+  stopped: {
+    title: 'Stop bot?',
+    body: 'The bot will pause after its current operation. Conversations stop syncing too — use scan mode to keep them up to date.',
+    confirm: 'Confirm stop',
+    tone: 'button danger',
+  },
+};
+
 export function ConfirmationDialog({ action, errorMessage = null, isPending, onCancel, onConfirm }: ConfirmationDialogProps) {
-  const isStarting = action === 'start';
+  const { title, body, confirm, tone } = copy[action];
 
   return (
     <Modal className="dialog-card" isDismissLocked={isPending} labelledBy="confirmation-title" onClose={onCancel}>
       <span className="eyebrow">Confirm action</span>
-      <h2 id="confirmation-title">{isStarting ? 'Start bot?' : 'Stop bot?'}</h2>
+      <h2 id="confirmation-title">{title}</h2>
-      <p>
+      <p>{body}</p>
-        {isStarting
-          ? 'The bot will resume automated processing.'
-          : 'The bot will pause after its current operation.'}
-      </p>
       {errorMessage ? <p className="dialog-error" role="alert">{errorMessage}</p> : null}
       <div className="dialog-actions">
         <button autoFocus className="button secondary" disabled={isPending} onClick={onCancel} type="button">
           Cancel
         </button>
-        <button className={isStarting ? 'button primary' : 'button danger'} disabled={isPending} onClick={onConfirm} type="button">
+        <button className={tone} disabled={isPending} onClick={onConfirm} type="button">
-          {isPending ? 'Applying…' : `Confirm ${action}`}
+          {isPending ? 'Applying…' : confirm}
         </button>
       </div>
     </Modal>

apps/dashboard/src/features/overview/overview-page.tsx

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useQueryClient } from '@tanstack/react-query';
-import { dashboardQueryKeys, useSetRunningMutation, useStatsQuery, useTimersQuery } from '../../api/queries.js';
+import { dashboardQueryKeys, useSetModeMutation, useStatsQuery, useTimersQuery } from '../../api/queries.js';
-import type { BotStats, Timers } from '../../api/contracts.js';
+import type { BotMode, BotStats, Timers } from '../../api/contracts.js';
 import type { AccountStatus } from '../../../../../packages/api-contracts/src/index.js';
 import { ConfirmationDialog } from '../../components/confirmation-dialog.js';
 import { RedditUserText } from '../../components/reddit-user-text.js';
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ import { OriginPostButton } from '../../components/origin-post.js';
 import { RecentMessagesPanel } from './recent-messages.js';
 import { AccountOwnerBadge } from '../../components/account-owner-badge.js';
 
+const MODE_ORDER: readonly BotMode[] = ['running', 'scan', 'stopped'];
+
+const modeCopy: Record<BotMode, { label: string; action: string; dot: string; buttonTone: string }> = {
+  running: { label: 'Running', action: 'Start bot', dot: 'running', buttonTone: 'button primary' },
+  scan: { label: 'Scanning', action: 'Scan mode', dot: 'scanning', buttonTone: 'button secondary' },
+  stopped: { label: 'Stopped', action: 'Stop bot', dot: 'stopped', buttonTone: 'button danger' },
+};
+
 function errorMessage(error: Error | null): string {
   return error?.message ?? 'Something went wrong.';
 }
@@ -83,6 +91,7 @@ function TimersPanel({ timers }: { timers: Timers }) {
 const sendingStateCopy: Record<AccountStatus['sendingState'], { label: string; tone: 'success' | 'warning' | 'neutral'; detail: string }> = {
   ready: { label: 'Ready', tone: 'success', detail: 'Available for the next outbound candidate.' },
   'bot-stopped': { label: 'Bot stopped', tone: 'neutral', detail: 'Global sending is stopped.' },
+  'scan-only': { label: 'Scan only', tone: 'neutral', detail: 'Conversations stay in sync, but nothing is sent.' },
   'runtime-stopped': { label: 'Runtime stopped', tone: 'warning', detail: 'This account runtime is not running.' },
   'runtime-failed': { label: 'Runtime failed', tone: 'warning', detail: 'This account runtime needs attention.' },
   'login-required': { label: 'Login required', tone: 'warning', detail: 'Refresh this account session before it can send.' },
@@ -174,8 +183,8 @@ export function OverviewPage() {
   const queryClient = useQueryClient();
   const statsQuery = useStatsQuery();
   const timersQuery = useTimersQuery();
-  const controlMutation = useSetRunningMutation();
+  const controlMutation = useSetModeMutation();
-  const [confirmationAction, setConfirmationAction] = useState<'start' | 'stop' | null>(null);
+  const [confirmationAction, setConfirmationAction] = useState<BotMode | null>(null);
   const isRefreshing = (statsQuery.isFetching || timersQuery.isFetching) && !statsQuery.isPending;
 
   async function refreshOverview() {
@@ -187,7 +196,7 @@ export function OverviewPage() {
 
   function confirmControl() {
     if (!confirmationAction) return;
-    controlMutation.mutate(confirmationAction === 'start', {
+    controlMutation.mutate(confirmationAction, {
       onSuccess: () => setConfirmationAction(null),
     });
   }
@@ -216,7 +225,8 @@ export function OverviewPage() {
   }
 
   const stats = statsQuery.data;
-  const action = stats.isRunning ? 'stop' : 'start';
+  // Offer the two modes the bot is not currently in, in a stable order.
+  const offeredModes = MODE_ORDER.filter((mode) => mode !== stats.mode);
 
   return (
     <div className="page">
@@ -237,20 +247,23 @@ export function OverviewPage() {
           >
             {isRefreshing ? 'Refreshing…' : 'Refresh'}
           </button>
-          <button
+          {offeredModes.map((mode) => (
-            className={action === 'start' ? 'button primary' : 'button danger'}
+            <button
-            onClick={() => setConfirmationAction(action)}
+              className={modeCopy[mode].buttonTone}
-            type="button"
+              key={mode}
-          >
+              onClick={() => setConfirmationAction(mode)}
-            {action === 'start' ? 'Start bot' : 'Stop bot'}
+              type="button"
-          </button>
+            >
+              {modeCopy[mode].action}
+            </button>
+          ))}
         </div>
       </header>
 
       <section aria-label="Bot state" className="status-strip">
         <div>
-          <span className={`status-dot ${stats.isRunning ? 'running' : 'stopped'}`} aria-hidden="true" />
+          <span className={`status-dot ${modeCopy[stats.mode].dot}`} aria-hidden="true" />
-          <div><small>Bot status</small><strong data-bot-status>{stats.isRunning ? 'Running' : 'Stopped'}</strong></div>
+          <div><small>Bot status</small><strong data-bot-status>{modeCopy[stats.mode].label}</strong></div>
         </div>
         {stats.dryRunMode ? <span className="pill neutral">Dry run</span> : null}
         <span className="status-note">{stats.messagesThisHour} of {stats.maxMessagesPerHour} messages used this hour</span>

apps/dashboard/src/styles.css

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ h2 { margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 1.1rem; }
 .status-strip small { color: var(--muted); }
 .status-dot { width: .7rem; height: .7rem; border-radius: 50%; }
 .status-dot.running { background: var(--accent); box-shadow: 0 0 0 .35rem rgba(117, 214, 157, .12); }
+.status-dot.scanning { background: var(--warning-text); box-shadow: 0 0 0 .35rem rgba(255, 200, 87, .12); }
 .status-dot.stopped { background: var(--danger); box-shadow: 0 0 0 .35rem rgba(255, 138, 132, .1); }
 .pill { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; padding: .3rem .55rem; border-radius: 999px; font-size: .75rem; font-weight: 800; }
 .pill.neutral { color: #d4dfda; background: #2b3832; }

docs/api.md

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ an administrator credential.
 | `GET` | `/api/v1/control` | Get bot running state | read | no |
 | `POST` | `/api/v1/control` | Set bot running state | control | yes |
 | `POST` | `/api/v1/control/start` | Start bot processing | control | yes |
+| `POST` | `/api/v1/control/scan` | Keep conversations in sync without sending | control | yes |
 | `POST` | `/api/v1/control/stop` | Stop bot processing | control | yes |
 | `GET` | `/api/v1/jobs` | List recent asynchronous jobs | read | no |
 | `GET` | `/api/v1/jobs/{id}` | Get asynchronous job state | read | no |
@@ -93,7 +94,9 @@ an administrator credential.
 | `PATCH` | `/api/media-library/{id}` | Correct tags or enable an exchange image | admin | yes |
 | `DELETE` | `/api/media-library/{id}` | Delete an exchange image | admin | yes |
 | `POST` | `/api/start` | Start bot processing (legacy) | admin | yes |
+| `POST` | `/api/scan` | Switch to scan mode (legacy) | admin | yes |
 | `POST` | `/api/stop` | Stop bot processing (legacy) | admin | yes |
+| `POST` | `/api/mode` | Set bot mode: running, scan or stopped (legacy) | admin | yes |
 | `GET` | `/api/timers` | Get rate-limit timers | read | no |
 | `GET` | `/api/analytics/by-subreddit` | Get performance by subreddit | read | no |
 | `GET` | `/api/analytics/by-strategy` | Get performance by strategy | read | no |

packages/api-contracts/src/common.ts

@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@ export const ErrorResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
 });
 
 export const SuccessResponseSchema = z.strictObject({ success: z.literal(true) });
+export const BotModeSchema = z.enum(['running', 'scan', 'stopped']);
 export const ControlResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   success: z.literal(true),
   running: z.boolean(),
+  mode: BotModeSchema,
 });
 export const RejectedActionResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   success: z.literal(false),
@@ -17,4 +19,5 @@ export const RejectedActionResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
 
 export type ErrorResponse = z.infer<typeof ErrorResponseSchema>;
 export type SuccessResponse = z.infer<typeof SuccessResponseSchema>;
+export type BotMode = z.infer<typeof BotModeSchema>;
 export type ControlResponse = z.infer<typeof ControlResponseSchema>;

packages/api-contracts/src/stats.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import { z } from 'zod';
 import { ActivityItemSchema } from './activity.js';
+import { BotModeSchema } from './common.js';
 
 export const AccountSendingStateSchema = z.enum([
   'ready',
   'bot-stopped',
+  'scan-only',
   'runtime-stopped',
   'runtime-failed',
   'login-required',
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ const PerformanceFields = {
 
 export const StatsResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   isRunning: z.boolean(),
+  mode: BotModeSchema,
   dryRunMode: z.boolean(),
   totalProcessed: z.number(),
   totalMessagesSent: z.number(),

packages/api-contracts/tests/contracts.test.ts

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ describe('dashboard endpoint contracts', () => {
   it('accepts current stats and rejects malformed stats', () => {
     const payload = {
       isRunning: true,
+      mode: 'running',
       dryRunMode: false,
       totalProcessed: 10,
       totalMessagesSent: 8,
@@ -71,11 +72,14 @@ describe('dashboard endpoint contracts', () => {
     expect(StatsResponseSchema.safeParse({ ...payload, isRunning: 'yes' }).success).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  it('validates authoritative start and stop responses', () => {
+  it('validates authoritative start, scan and stop responses', () => {
-    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: true }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: true, mode: 'running' }).success).toBe(true);
-    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: false }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: false, mode: 'scan' }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: false, mode: 'stopped' }).success).toBe(true);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: true }).success).toBe(false);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true, running: false, mode: 'paused' }).success).toBe(false);
     expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: true }).success).toBe(false);
-    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: false, running: true }).success).toBe(false);
+    expect(ControlResponseSchema.safeParse({ success: false, running: true, mode: 'running' }).success).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it('validates timer, activity, message, and successful-example payloads', () => {

src/bootstrap.ts

@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ export async function bootstrap(
       config,
       logger,
       db,
-      isBotRunning: () => webServer?.isRunning() ?? true,
+      getBotMode: () => webServer?.getMode() ?? 'running',
     }),
   );
   const redditAccounts = new RedditAccountsService(
@@ -389,8 +389,8 @@ export async function bootstrap(
       broadcaster,
       process.cwd(),
       aiUsageRepo,
-      runtimeStateRepo.isBotRunning(),
+      runtimeStateRepo.getBotMode(),
-      (running) => runtimeStateRepo.setBotRunning(running),
+      (mode) => runtimeStateRepo.setBotMode(mode),
       accountContentRepo,
     );
 

src/database/candidate-queue-repository.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type Database from 'better-sqlite3';
 import type { PhysiqueTargeting } from '../config/index.js';
 import type { RedditPost } from '../reddit/api.js';
+import { allowsSending, parseBotMode, type BotMode } from '../services/bot-mode.js';
 import { evaluatePhysiqueTargeting } from '../services/physique-targeting.js';
 import type { ProcessedPost } from '../services/processor.js';
 
@@ -429,20 +430,33 @@ export class CandidateQueueRepository {
   }
 }
 
-/** Persists the operator's intended pause/run state across container restarts. */
+/** Persists the operator's intended run/scan/stop state across container restarts. */
 export class RuntimeStateRepository {
   constructor(private readonly db: Database.Database) {}
 
+  getBotMode(): BotMode {
+    const row = this.db.prepare('SELECT bot_running, bot_mode FROM runtime_state WHERE id = 1')
+      .get() as { bot_running: number; bot_mode: string | null } | undefined;
+    if (!row) return 'stopped';
+    // `bot_mode` is null for rows written by an older build; fall back to the boolean.
+    return parseBotMode(row.bot_mode, row.bot_running === 1 ? 'running' : 'stopped');
+  }
+
+  setBotMode(mode: BotMode, now: number = Date.now()): void {
+    this.db.prepare(`
+      INSERT INTO runtime_state (id, bot_running, bot_mode, updated_at) VALUES (1, ?, ?, ?)
+      ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET
+        bot_running = excluded.bot_running,
+        bot_mode = excluded.bot_mode,
+        updated_at = excluded.updated_at
+    `).run(allowsSending(mode) ? 1 : 0, mode, now);
+  }
+
   isBotRunning(): boolean {
-    const row = this.db.prepare('SELECT bot_running FROM runtime_state WHERE id = 1')
+    return allowsSending(this.getBotMode());
-      .get() as { bot_running: number } | undefined;
-    return row?.bot_running === 1;
   }
 
   setBotRunning(running: boolean, now: number = Date.now()): void {
-    this.db.prepare(`
+    this.setBotMode(running ? 'running' : 'stopped', now);
-      INSERT INTO runtime_state (id, bot_running, updated_at) VALUES (1, ?, ?)
-      ON CONFLICT(id) DO UPDATE SET bot_running = excluded.bot_running, updated_at = excluded.updated_at
-    `).run(running ? 1 : 0, now);
   }
 }

src/database/client.ts

@@ -477,6 +477,13 @@ export function runMigrations(db: Database.Database): void {
       CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_reddit_account_establishment_state
         ON reddit_account_establishment(state, retry_at);
     `),
+    () => {
+      const columns = db.prepare(`PRAGMA table_info(runtime_state)`).all() as { name: string }[];
+      if (columns.some((column) => column.name === 'bot_mode')) return;
+      db.exec(`ALTER TABLE runtime_state ADD COLUMN bot_mode TEXT`);
+      // Existing rows only knew running/stopped; preserve that intent verbatim.
+      db.exec(`UPDATE runtime_state SET bot_mode = CASE WHEN bot_running = 1 THEN 'running' ELSE 'stopped' END`);
+    },
   ];
 
   let currentVersion = db.pragma('user_version', { simple: true }) as number;

src/main-loop.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { isSkip } from './services/processor.js';
 import { reportDeliveryResult, reportInvitationCooldown } from './web/event-reporting.js';
 import { SessionBoundRuntime } from './services/session-bound-runtime.js';
 import { RedditRateLimitError } from './reddit/api.js';
+import { allowsConversationSync, allowsDiscovery, allowsSending } from './services/bot-mode.js';
 
 export interface StoppableSchedule {
   stop(): void;
@@ -208,20 +209,25 @@ export async function runMainLoop(app: AppContainer): Promise<void> {
 
   while (!isShuttingDown) {
     try {
+      const mode = webServer?.getMode() ?? 'running';
       const authenticated = accountAuth.isFullyAuthenticated()
         || await accountAuth.ensureFullyAuthenticated();
-      if (!sessionRuntime.reconcile(authenticated)) {
+      // Response checking, media sync and the startup chat sync live behind
+      // this reconcile, so scan mode keeps them alive while `stopped` does not.
+      if (!sessionRuntime.reconcile(authenticated && allowsConversationSync(mode))) {
         if (Date.now() - lastPausedLog > PAUSED_LOG_INTERVAL_MS) {
-          logger.info('Reddit is logged out. Waiting for a session dump from the extension.');
+          logger.info(authenticated
+            ? 'Bot is stopped. Use the web dashboard to start or switch to scan mode.'
+            : 'Reddit is logged out. Waiting for a session dump from the extension.');
           lastPausedLog = Date.now();
         }
         await sleep(PAUSE_POLL_MS, shutdownController.signal);
         continue;
       }
 
-      if (webServer && !webServer.isRunning()) {
+      if (!allowsSending(mode)) {
         if (Date.now() - lastPausedLog > PAUSED_LOG_INTERVAL_MS) {
-          logger.info('Bot is paused. Use the web dashboard to start.');
+          logger.info('Bot is in scan mode — conversations stay in sync, no new outreach.');
           lastPausedLog = Date.now();
         }
         await sleep(PAUSE_POLL_MS, shutdownController.signal);
@@ -518,7 +524,7 @@ async function runConcurrentAccountRuntimes(app: AppContainer): Promise<void> {
     const discoveryLoop = (async (): Promise<void> => {
       while (!controller.signal.aborted) {
         try {
-          if (!(webServer?.isRunning() ?? true)) {
+          if (!allowsDiscovery(webServer?.getMode() ?? 'running')) {
             await sleep(1_000, controller.signal).catch(() => undefined);
             continue;
           }
@@ -571,7 +577,7 @@ async function runConcurrentAccountRuntimes(app: AppContainer): Promise<void> {
 
     const screeningLoop = (async (): Promise<void> => {
       while (!controller.signal.aborted) {
-        if (!(webServer?.isRunning() ?? true)) {
+        if (!allowsDiscovery(webServer?.getMode() ?? 'running')) {
           await sleep(1_000, controller.signal).catch(() => undefined);
           continue;
         }
@@ -638,7 +644,7 @@ async function runConcurrentAccountRuntimes(app: AppContainer): Promise<void> {
 
     const dispatchLoop = (async (): Promise<void> => {
       while (!controller.signal.aborted) {
-        if (!(webServer?.isRunning() ?? true)) {
+        if (!allowsDiscovery(webServer?.getMode() ?? 'running')) {
           await sleep(1_000, controller.signal).catch(() => undefined);
           continue;
         }

src/services/bot-mode.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/**
+ * The operator's intended runtime posture.
+ *
+ * - `running` — discover candidates, screen them, send outbound messages and
+ *   automate replies.
+ * - `scan` — keep conversations in sync (chat refresh, reply detection,
+ *   response checking) but send nothing and start no new outreach. Actionable
+ *   replies are surfaced as backlog for a human instead of being answered.
+ * - `stopped` — everything halts.
+ *
+ * `scan` differs from `browser.dryRun`: dry run still discovers and screens
+ * candidates (and pays for the AI screening), it just suppresses the send.
+ */
+export type BotMode = 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopped';
+
+export const BOT_MODES: readonly BotMode[] = ['running', 'scan', 'stopped'];
+
+export function isBotMode(value: unknown): value is BotMode {
+  return typeof value === 'string' && (BOT_MODES as readonly string[]).includes(value);
+}
+
+/** Falls back to `stopped` so an unreadable persisted value never auto-sends. */
+export function parseBotMode(value: unknown, fallback: BotMode = 'stopped'): BotMode {
+  return isBotMode(value) ? value : fallback;
+}
+
+/** Outbound messages and automated replies. */
+export function allowsSending(mode: BotMode): boolean {
+  return mode === 'running';
+}
+
+/** Subreddit scanning, AI screening and candidate dispatch. */
+export function allowsDiscovery(mode: BotMode): boolean {
+  return mode === 'running';
+}
+
+/** Chat refresh, reply detection and response checking. */
+export function allowsConversationSync(mode: BotMode): boolean {
+  return mode === 'running' || mode === 'scan';
+}
+
+export function describeBotMode(mode: BotMode): string {
+  switch (mode) {
+    case 'running': return 'Running';
+    case 'scan': return 'Scanning';
+    case 'stopped': return 'Stopped';
+  }
+}

src/services/conversation-automation.ts

@@ -140,7 +140,16 @@ export class ConversationAutomationService {
   /** In-process memo so a claim retry does not pay for the same verdict twice. */
   private readonly screeningCache = new Map<string, ConversationReplyScreening>();
 
-  async processPendingConversations(signal?: AbortSignal): Promise<ConversationAutomationResult[]> {
+  /**
+   * Refreshes chats, recomputes the actionable backlog, and (unless
+   * `scanOnly`) generates and sends replies. Scan mode stops after the
+   * bookkeeping so the backlog surfaces for a human without spending AI
+   * tokens or touching Reddit.
+   */
+  async processPendingConversations(
+    signal?: AbortSignal,
+    { scanOnly = false }: { scanOnly?: boolean } = {},
+  ): Promise<ConversationAutomationResult[]> {
     this.processing = true;
     let conversations: ActiveChat[] = [];
     try {
@@ -161,6 +170,15 @@ export class ConversationAutomationService {
         );
       }
 
+      if (scanOnly) {
+        if (actionable.length > 0) {
+          this.logger.info(
+            `[automation] Scan mode: leaving ${actionable.length} actionable conversation(s) for a human`,
+          );
+        }
+        return [];
+      }
+
       const results: ConversationAutomationResult[] = [];
       for (const conversation of actionable) {
         const result = await this.processConversation(conversation, signal);

src/services/reddit-account-runtime-builder.ts

@@ -55,12 +55,13 @@ import { MediaLibraryRepository } from '../database/media-library-repository.js'
 import { MediaLibraryExchangeService } from './media-library-exchange.js';
 import { RecipientAccountStatusService } from './recipient-account-status.js';
 import { AccountEstablishmentService } from './account-establishment.js';
+import { allowsConversationSync, allowsSending, type BotMode } from './bot-mode.js';
 
 export interface ConcreteRuntimeFactoryOptions {
   config: Config;
   logger: Logger;
   db: Database.Database;
-  isBotRunning?: () => boolean;
+  getBotMode?: () => BotMode;
 }
 
 export function materializePreparedPostForAccount(
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ export function createConcreteRedditAccountRuntimeFactory(
 }
 
 async function buildRuntime(
-  { config, logger: rootLogger, db, isBotRunning = () => true }: ConcreteRuntimeFactoryOptions,
+  { config, logger: rootLogger, db, getBotMode = () => 'running' }: ConcreteRuntimeFactoryOptions,
   session: VerifiedAccountSession,
   recipientDeduplicator: RecipientDeduplicator,
   redditRequestCoordinator: RedditRequestCoordinator,
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ async function buildRuntime(
       recipientAccountStatusService, establishmentService,
     };
     const lifecycle = new AccountRuntimeLoop(
-      resources, accountConfig, logger, isBotRunning, recipientDeduplicator,
+      resources, accountConfig, logger, getBotMode, recipientDeduplicator,
     );
     return new RedditAccountRuntime(session, resources, lifecycle);
   } catch (error) {
@@ -312,32 +313,32 @@ export function runtimeAuthenticatedAccount(
   };
 }
 
-class AccountRuntimeLoop {
+/** Exported for tests; production code reaches it through the runtime factory. */
+export class AccountRuntimeLoop {
   private controller: AbortController | null = null;
   private loop: Promise<void> | null = null;
+  private mediaSyncRunning = false;
+  private startupSyncStarted = false;
 
   constructor(
     private readonly resources: RedditAccountRuntimeResources,
     private readonly config: Config,
     private readonly logger: Logger,
-    private readonly isBotRunning: () => boolean,
+    private readonly getBotMode: () => BotMode,
     private readonly recipientDeduplicator: RecipientDeduplicator,
   ) {}
 
   start(): void {
     if (this.loop) return;
     this.controller = new AbortController();
-    this.resources.mediaSyncService.start();
     this.resources.recipientAccountStatusService.start();
     this.resources.establishmentService.start();
-    void this.resources.chatService.runStartupSync()
-      .then(() => this.resources.chatService.enrichUsernames())
-      .catch((error) => this.logger.error(`[account ${this.resources.accountAuth.getSnapshot().redditUsername}] startup sync failed:`, error));
     this.loop = this.run(this.controller.signal).finally(() => { this.loop = null; });
   }
 
   async stop(): Promise<void> {
     this.controller?.abort();
+    this.mediaSyncRunning = false;
     this.resources.mediaSyncService.stop();
     this.resources.recipientAccountStatusService.stop();
     this.resources.establishmentService.stop();
@@ -347,6 +348,26 @@ class AccountRuntimeLoop {
     await this.resources.browserClient.close();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Starts or stops the background media sync only on a mode transition —
+   * `MediaSyncService.start()` re-wraps its own `stop()` on every call, so
+   * calling it once per loop tick would pile up closures.
+   */
+  private reconcileMediaSync(enabled: boolean): void {
+    if (enabled === this.mediaSyncRunning) return;
+    this.mediaSyncRunning = enabled;
+    if (!enabled) {
+      this.resources.mediaSyncService.stop();
+      return;
+    }
+    this.resources.mediaSyncService.start();
+    if (this.startupSyncStarted) return;
+    this.startupSyncStarted = true;
+    void this.resources.chatService.runStartupSync()
+      .then(() => this.resources.chatService.enrichUsernames())
+      .catch((error) => this.logger.error(`[account ${this.resources.accountAuth.getSnapshot().redditUsername}] startup sync failed:`, error));
+  }
+
   private async run(signal: AbortSignal): Promise<void> {
     let nextReplyCheckAt = 0;
     let nextPerformanceCheckAt = 0;
@@ -354,7 +375,11 @@ class AccountRuntimeLoop {
     const performanceInterval = Math.max(this.config.reddit.pollIntervalMs * 5, 60_000);
     while (!signal.aborted) {
       try {
-        if (!this.isBotRunning()) {
+        const mode = this.getBotMode();
+        // Background media sync follows the mode too, so `stopped` really does
+        // halt every background refresh rather than leaving a 30-minute one.
+        this.reconcileMediaSync(allowsConversationSync(mode));
+        if (!allowsConversationSync(mode)) {
           await delay(1_000, signal);
           continue;
         }
@@ -365,7 +390,12 @@ class AccountRuntimeLoop {
         }
         if (Date.now() >= nextReplyCheckAt) {
           nextReplyCheckAt = Date.now() + replyInterval;
-          const automationResults = await this.resources.conversationAutomation.processPendingConversations(signal);
+          // In scan mode the same pass refreshes chats and counts actionable
+          // replies, but stops short of generating or sending any of them.
+          const automationResults = await this.resources.conversationAutomation.processPendingConversations(
+            signal,
+            { scanOnly: !allowsSending(mode) },
+          );
           for (const result of automationResults) {
             if (result.kind === 'sent') continue;
             this.resources.activityLogRepo.insert({

src/web/agent-api-contracts.ts

@@ -60,11 +60,14 @@ export const RecentErrorSchema = z.strictObject({
   data: z.unknown().optional(),
 });
 
+export const BotModeSchema = z.enum(['running', 'scan', 'stopped']);
+
 export const OverviewResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   generatedAt: z.string().datetime(),
-  status: z.enum(['operational', 'degraded', 'stopped']),
+  status: z.enum(['operational', 'scanning', 'degraded', 'stopped']),
   bot: z.strictObject({
     running: z.boolean(),
+    mode: BotModeSchema,
     dryRun: z.boolean(),
     authenticated: z.boolean(),
     messagesThisHour: z.number(),
@@ -85,10 +88,18 @@ export const OverviewResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   }),
 });
 
-export const ControlRequestSchema = z.strictObject({ running: z.boolean() });
+/** `mode` is authoritative; `running` stays for older agent clients. */
+export const ControlRequestSchema = z.strictObject({
+  running: z.boolean().optional(),
+  mode: BotModeSchema.optional(),
+}).refine(
+  (value) => value.running !== undefined || value.mode !== undefined,
+  { message: 'Provide either `mode` or `running`' },
+);
 export const ControlResponseSchema = z.strictObject({
   success: z.boolean(),
   running: z.boolean(),
+  mode: BotModeSchema,
   authenticated: z.boolean(),
   changed: z.boolean(),
   message: z.string(),

src/web/api-catalog.ts

@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ export const API_OPERATIONS: readonly ApiOperation[] = [
   operation('getControlStatus', 'GET', '/api/v1/control', 'Get bot running state', ['Control'], { responseSchema: ControlResponseSchema }),
   operation('setControl', 'POST', '/api/v1/control', 'Set bot running state', ['Control'], { access: 'control', requestSchema: ControlRequestSchema, responseSchema: ControlResponseSchema }),
   operation('startBotV1', 'POST', '/api/v1/control/start', 'Start bot processing', ['Control'], { access: 'control', responseSchema: ControlResponseSchema }),
+  operation('scanBotV1', 'POST', '/api/v1/control/scan', 'Keep conversations in sync without sending', ['Control'], { access: 'control', responseSchema: ControlResponseSchema }),
   operation('stopBotV1', 'POST', '/api/v1/control/stop', 'Stop bot processing', ['Control'], { access: 'control', responseSchema: ControlResponseSchema }),
   operation('listJobs', 'GET', '/api/v1/jobs', 'List recent asynchronous jobs', ['Jobs'], { responseSchema: z.array(AgentJobSchema) }),
   operation('getJob', 'GET', '/api/v1/jobs/{id}', 'Get asynchronous job state', ['Jobs'], { responseSchema: AgentJobSchema }),
@@ -149,7 +150,9 @@ export const API_OPERATIONS: readonly ApiOperation[] = [
   }),
   operation('deleteMediaLibraryImage', 'DELETE', '/api/media-library/{id}', 'Delete an exchange image', ['Media Library']),
   operation('startBot', 'POST', '/api/start', 'Start bot processing (legacy)', ['Control']),
+  operation('scanBot', 'POST', '/api/scan', 'Switch to scan mode (legacy)', ['Control']),
   operation('stopBot', 'POST', '/api/stop', 'Stop bot processing (legacy)', ['Control']),
+  operation('setBotMode', 'POST', '/api/mode', 'Set bot mode: running, scan or stopped (legacy)', ['Control']),
   operation('getTimers', 'GET', '/api/timers', 'Get rate-limit timers', ['Analytics']),
   operation('getSubredditAnalytics', 'GET', '/api/analytics/by-subreddit', 'Get performance by subreddit', ['Analytics']),
   operation('getStrategyAnalytics', 'GET', '/api/analytics/by-strategy', 'Get performance by strategy', ['Analytics']),

src/web/bot-control.ts

@@ -1,14 +1,29 @@
 import type { WebContext } from './context.js';
 import type { ControlResponse } from './agent-api-contracts.js';
+import { allowsConversationSync, allowsSending, type BotMode } from '../services/bot-mode.js';
+
+/** Past-tense verb used in operator-facing log and activity lines. */
+const TRANSITIONED: Record<BotMode, string> = {
+  running: 'started',
+  scan: 'switched to scan mode',
+  stopped: 'stopped',
+};
+
+const STATE: Record<BotMode, string> = {
+  running: 'running',
+  scan: 'in scan mode',
+  stopped: 'stopped',
+};
 
 export function botControlStatus(ctx: WebContext): ControlResponse {
-  const running = ctx.getBotRunning();
+  const mode = ctx.getBotMode();
   return {
     success: true,
-    running,
+    running: allowsSending(mode),
+    mode,
     authenticated: hasAuthenticatedAccount(ctx),
     changed: false,
-    message: running ? 'Bot is running' : 'Bot is stopped',
+    message: `Bot is ${STATE[mode]}`,
   };
 }
 
@@ -17,40 +32,59 @@ export async function setBotRunning(
   running: boolean,
   actor: 'dashboard' | 'agent' = 'dashboard',
 ): Promise<ControlResponse> {
+  return setBotMode(ctx, running ? 'running' : 'stopped', actor);
+}
+
+export async function setBotMode(
+  ctx: WebContext,
+  mode: BotMode,
+  actor: 'dashboard' | 'agent' = 'dashboard',
+): Promise<ControlResponse> {
+  // Scan mode drives the browser to refresh chats, so it needs a live session
+  // just as much as running does.
+  const needsAuth = allowsConversationSync(mode);
   const authenticated = hasAuthenticatedAccount(ctx)
-    || (running && await ensureAuthenticatedAccount(ctx));
+    || (needsAuth && await ensureAuthenticatedAccount(ctx));
-  if (running && !authenticated) {
+  if (needsAuth && !authenticated) {
-    ctx.logger.warn(`Bot start blocked for ${actor} until full account authentication`);
+    ctx.logger.warn(`Bot ${mode} blocked for ${actor} until full account authentication`);
     return {
       success: false,
       running: false,
+      mode: ctx.getBotMode(),
       authenticated: false,
       changed: false,
-      message: 'Bot start requires a fully authenticated Reddit account',
+      message: mode === 'scan'
+        ? 'Scan mode requires a fully authenticated Reddit account'
+        : 'Bot start requires a fully authenticated Reddit account',
     };
   }
 
-  const current = ctx.getBotRunning();
+  const current = ctx.getBotMode();
-  if (current === running) {
+  if (current === mode) {
     return {
       success: true,
-      running,
+      running: allowsSending(mode),
+      mode,
       authenticated,
       changed: false,
-      message: running ? 'Bot was already running' : 'Bot was already stopped',
+      message: `Bot was already ${STATE[mode]}`,
     };
   }
 
-  ctx.setBotRunning(running);
+  ctx.setBotMode(mode);
-  ctx.activity.push(running ? 'sent' : 'skipped', `Bot ${running ? 'started' : 'stopped'} by ${actor}`);
+  ctx.activity.push(
-  ctx.logger.info(`Bot ${running ? 'started' : 'stopped'} via ${actor}`);
+    allowsSending(mode) ? 'sent' : 'skipped',
-  ctx.broadcaster.dashboardEvents.bot({ running, dryRun: ctx.config.browser.dryRun });
+    `Bot ${TRANSITIONED[mode]} by ${actor}`,
+  );
+  ctx.logger.info(`Bot ${TRANSITIONED[mode]} via ${actor}`);
+  ctx.broadcaster.dashboardEvents.bot({ mode, dryRun: ctx.config.browser.dryRun });
   return {
     success: true,
-    running,
+    running: allowsSending(mode),
+    mode,
     authenticated,
     changed: true,
-    message: `Bot ${running ? 'started' : 'stopped'}`,
+    message: `Bot ${TRANSITIONED[mode]}`,
   };
 }
 

src/web/context.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import type { CandidateQueueRepository } from '../database/candidate-queue-repos
 import type { MediaLibraryService } from '../services/media-library.js';
 import type { AccountContentRepository } from '../database/account-repositories.js';
 import type { PushNotifier } from '../services/push-notifier.js';
+import type { BotMode } from '../services/bot-mode.js';
 
 /** Bag of everything the route modules might need. */
 export interface WebContext {
@@ -66,7 +67,11 @@ export interface WebContext {
     pushNotifier?: PushNotifier;
   };
 
-  /** Bot pause/resume toggle read by the main loop. */
+  /** Operator's run/scan/stop intent, read by the main loop. */
+  getBotMode(): BotMode;
+  setBotMode(mode: BotMode): void;
+
+  /** Convenience for `getBotMode() === 'running'`; false while scanning. */
   getBotRunning(): boolean;
   setBotRunning(running: boolean): void;
 

src/web/events/event-adapters.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { RealtimeEvent } from './event-types.js';
 import type { DashboardEventPublisher } from './event-publisher.js';
+import type { BotMode } from '../../services/bot-mode.js';
 
 type Published = RealtimeEvent;
 type SyncInput =
@@ -13,8 +14,9 @@ const errorReason = (error: unknown) => error instanceof Error ? error.message :
 
 export function createDashboardEventAdapters(hub: DashboardEventPublisher) {
   return {
-    bot(input: { running: boolean; dryRun: boolean; transitioning?: 'starting' | 'stopping'; reason?: string }): Published {
+    bot(input: { mode?: BotMode; running?: boolean; dryRun: boolean; transitioning?: 'starting' | 'stopping'; reason?: string }): Published {
-      return hub.publish('bot.status.changed', { status: input.transitioning ?? (input.running ? 'running' : 'stopped'), dryRun: input.dryRun, reason: input.reason });
+      const mode = input.mode ?? (input.running ? 'running' : 'stopped');
+      return hub.publish('bot.status.changed', { status: input.transitioning ?? mode, dryRun: input.dryRun, reason: input.reason });
     },
     messageSent(input: { id: string; username: string; conversationId?: string }): Published {
       return hub.publish('message.sent', { messageId: input.id, recipient: input.username, conversationId: input.conversationId });

src/web/events/event-types.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-export type BotRuntimeStatus = 'starting' | 'running' | 'stopping' | 'stopped';
+export type BotRuntimeStatus = 'starting' | 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopping' | 'stopped';
 
 export type ConversationStatus =
   | 'new'

src/web/routes/agent.ts

@@ -2,9 +2,10 @@ import { Router } from 'express';
 import type { WebContext } from '../context.js';
 import { AgentJobRequestSchema, ControlRequestSchema, SendRedditUserMessageRequestSchema } from '../agent-api-contracts.js';
 import { AgentJobManager } from '../agent-job-manager.js';
-import { botControlStatus, setBotRunning } from '../bot-control.js';
+import { botControlStatus, setBotMode } from '../bot-control.js';
 import { capabilities, createOpenApiDocument } from '../api-catalog.js';
 import { RedditUserMessageError, RedditUserMessenger } from '../../services/reddit-user-messenger.js';
+import { allowsSending } from '../../services/bot-mode.js';
 
 export function createHealthRouter(startedAt = Date.now()): Router {
   const router = Router();
@@ -60,14 +61,19 @@ export function createAgentRouter(ctx: WebContext): Router {
       res.status(400).json({ error: 'Invalid control request', detail: body.error.format() });
       return;
     }
-    const result = await setBotRunning(ctx, body.data.running, 'agent');
+    const mode = body.data.mode ?? (body.data.running ? 'running' : 'stopped');
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, mode, 'agent');
     res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result);
   });
   router.post('/v1/control/start', async (_req, res) => {
-    const result = await setBotRunning(ctx, true, 'agent');
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, 'running', 'agent');
     res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result);
   });
-  router.post('/v1/control/stop', async (_req, res) => res.json(await setBotRunning(ctx, false, 'agent')));
+  router.post('/v1/control/scan', async (_req, res) => {
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, 'scan', 'agent');
+    res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result);
+  });
+  router.post('/v1/control/stop', async (_req, res) => res.json(await setBotMode(ctx, 'stopped', 'agent')));
 
   router.get('/v1/jobs', (req, res) => {
     const limit = Number.parseInt(String(req.query.limit ?? '20'), 10);
@@ -165,6 +171,7 @@ function buildOverview(ctx: WebContext) {
     : ctx.getMessagesThisHour();
   const authenticated = accounts.some((account) => account.authenticated)
     || (ctx.services.accountAuth?.isFullyAuthenticated() ?? false);
+  const mode = ctx.getBotMode();
   const recentErrors = ctx.broadcaster.getRecent(100)
     .filter((entry) => entry.level === 'error')
     .slice(-10)
@@ -173,9 +180,14 @@ function buildOverview(ctx: WebContext) {
 
   return {
     generatedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
-    status: !ctx.getBotRunning() ? 'stopped' as const : authenticated ? 'operational' as const : 'degraded' as const,
+    status: mode === 'stopped'
+      ? 'stopped' as const
+      : !authenticated
+        ? 'degraded' as const
+        : mode === 'scan' ? 'scanning' as const : 'operational' as const,
     bot: {
-      running: ctx.getBotRunning(),
+      running: allowsSending(mode),
+      mode,
       dryRun: ctx.config.browser.dryRun,
       authenticated,
       messagesThisHour,

src/web/routes/control.ts

@@ -1,20 +1,40 @@
 import { Router } from 'express';
 import type { WebContext } from '../context.js';
-import { setBotRunning } from '../bot-control.js';
+import { setBotMode } from '../bot-control.js';
+import { isBotMode } from '../../services/bot-mode.js';
 
 export function createControlRouter(ctx: WebContext): Router {
   const router = Router();
 
   router.post('/start', async (_req, res) => {
-    const result = await setBotRunning(ctx, true);
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, 'running');
     res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result.success
-      ? { success: true, running: result.running }
+      ? { success: true, running: result.running, mode: result.mode }
-      : { success: false, running: false, authenticated: false });
+      : { success: false, running: false, mode: result.mode, authenticated: false });
+  });
+
+  router.post('/scan', async (_req, res) => {
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, 'scan');
+    res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result.success
+      ? { success: true, running: result.running, mode: result.mode }
+      : { success: false, running: false, mode: result.mode, authenticated: false });
   });
 
   router.post('/stop', async (_req, res) => {
-    const result = await setBotRunning(ctx, false);
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, 'stopped');
-    res.json({ success: true, running: result.running });
+    res.json({ success: true, running: result.running, mode: result.mode });
+  });
+
+  router.post('/mode', async (req, res) => {
+    const mode = (req.body as { mode?: unknown } | undefined)?.mode;
+    if (!isBotMode(mode)) {
+      res.status(400).json({ success: false, error: 'mode must be one of running, scan, stopped' });
+      return;
+    }
+    const result = await setBotMode(ctx, mode);
+    res.status(result.success ? 200 : 409).json(result.success
+      ? { success: true, running: result.running, mode: result.mode }
+      : { success: false, running: false, mode: result.mode, authenticated: false });
   });
 
   return router;

src/web/routes/stats.ts

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ export function createStatsRouter(ctx: WebContext): Router {
     const messagesThisHour = runtimes.length > 0
       ? runtimes.reduce((total, runtime) => total + runtime.resources.rateLimiter.getStats().messagesThisHour, 0)
       : ctx.getMessagesThisHour();
+    const botMode = ctx.getBotMode();
     const accounts: BotStats['accounts'] = (ctx.services.redditAccounts?.list() ?? []).map((account) => {
       const snapshot = runtimeSnapshots.find((item) => item.accountId === account.accountId);
       const runtime = snapshot ? ctx.services.accountRuntimes?.get(snapshot.accountId) : null;
@@ -63,8 +64,10 @@ export function createStatsRouter(ctx: WebContext): Router {
                 ? 'unestablished'
               : accountCooldown
                 ? 'matrix-cooldown'
-                : !ctx.getBotRunning()
+                : botMode === 'stopped'
                   ? 'bot-stopped'
+                : botMode === 'scan'
+                  ? 'scan-only'
                   : (priority?.processing || (priority?.actionableBacklog ?? 0) > 0)
                     ? 'replies-prioritized'
                     : timers.nextMessageAvailableAt !== null && timers.nextMessageAvailableAt > Date.now()
@@ -95,6 +98,7 @@ export function createStatsRouter(ctx: WebContext): Router {
 
     const stats: BotStats = {
       isRunning: ctx.getBotRunning(),
+      mode: botMode,
       dryRunMode: ctx.config.browser.dryRun,
       totalProcessed: runtimes.length > 0
         ? runtimes.reduce((total, runtime) => total + runtime.resources.activityLogRepo.countSentSkipped(), 0)

src/web/server.ts

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ import type { CandidateQueueRepository } from '../database/candidate-queue-repos
 import type { MediaLibraryService } from '../services/media-library.js';
 import { createMediaLibraryRouter } from './routes/media-library.js';
 import type { AccountContentRepository } from '../database/account-repositories.js';
+import { allowsSending, type BotMode } from '../services/bot-mode.js';
 
 export type { BotStats, ActivityItem, LogEntry, RuntimeConfig } from './types.js';
 
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ export class WebServer {
   private server: Server | null = null;
   private activity: ActivityLog;
   private broadcaster: LogBroadcaster;
-  private botRunning = false;
+  private botMode: BotMode = 'stopped';
   private messagesThisHour = 0;
   private runtimeConfig: RuntimeConfig;
   private onConfigChange: ((config: RuntimeConfig) => void) | null = null;
@@ -85,11 +86,11 @@ export class WebServer {
     broadcaster?: LogBroadcaster,
     private workspaceDirectory = process.cwd(),
     private aiUsageRepo?: AiUsageRepository,
-    initialBotRunning = false,
+    initialBotMode: BotMode = 'stopped',
-    private readonly persistBotRunning: (running: boolean) => void = () => undefined,
+    private readonly persistBotMode: (mode: BotMode) => void = () => undefined,
     private readonly accountContentRepo?: AccountContentRepository,
   ) {
-    this.botRunning = initialBotRunning;
+    this.botMode = initialBotMode;
     this.broadcaster = broadcaster ?? new LogBroadcaster();
     this.activity = new ActivityLog(activityLogRepo);
     this.runtimeConfig = {
@@ -125,10 +126,15 @@ export class WebServer {
         accountContent: this.accountContentRepo,
       },
       services: this.services,
-      getBotRunning: () => this.botRunning,
+      getBotMode: () => this.botMode,
+      setBotMode: (mode) => {
+        this.botMode = mode;
+        this.persistBotMode(mode);
+      },
+      getBotRunning: () => allowsSending(this.botMode),
       setBotRunning: (running) => {
-        this.botRunning = running;
+        this.botMode = running ? 'running' : 'stopped';
-        this.persistBotRunning(running);
+        this.persistBotMode(this.botMode);
       },
       getMessagesThisHour: () => this.messagesThisHour,
       getOnConfigChange: () => this.onConfigChange,
@@ -196,8 +202,13 @@ export class WebServer {
 
   // ---------- public API used by the bootstrapper ----------
 
+  /** True only in `running` mode — scan mode deliberately reads as not-running. */
   isRunning(): boolean {
-    return this.botRunning;
+    return allowsSending(this.botMode);
+  }
+
+  getMode(): BotMode {
+    return this.botMode;
   }
 
   get dashboardEvents(): LogBroadcaster['dashboardEvents'] {

src/web/types.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 export interface BotStats {
   isRunning: boolean;
+  /** `running` sends; `scan` keeps conversations in sync without sending. */
+  mode: 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopped';
   dryRunMode: boolean;
   totalProcessed: number;
   totalMessagesSent: number;
@@ -15,7 +17,7 @@ export interface BotStats {
     redditUsername: string;
     runtimeState: 'created' | 'starting' | 'running' | 'stopping' | 'stopped' | 'failed';
     authenticated: boolean;
-    sendingState: 'ready' | 'bot-stopped' | 'runtime-stopped' | 'runtime-failed' | 'login-required' | 'matrix-cooldown' | 'replies-prioritized' | 'pacing' | 'unestablished';
+    sendingState: 'ready' | 'bot-stopped' | 'scan-only' | 'runtime-stopped' | 'runtime-failed' | 'login-required' | 'matrix-cooldown' | 'replies-prioritized' | 'pacing' | 'unestablished';
     messagesThisHour: number;
     maxMessagesPerHour: number;
     nextMessageAvailableAt: number | null;

tests/bot-mode.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+import Database from 'better-sqlite3';
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import {
+  allowsConversationSync,
+  allowsDiscovery,
+  allowsSending,
+  isBotMode,
+  parseBotMode,
+} from '../src/services/bot-mode.js';
+import { RuntimeStateRepository } from '../src/database/candidate-queue-repository.js';
+import { runMigrations } from '../src/database/client.js';
+
+describe('bot mode capabilities', () => {
+  it('lets scan sync conversations without sending or discovering', () => {
+    expect(allowsConversationSync('scan')).toBe(true);
+    expect(allowsSending('scan')).toBe(false);
+    expect(allowsDiscovery('scan')).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('lets running do everything and stopped do nothing', () => {
+    for (const capability of [allowsConversationSync, allowsSending, allowsDiscovery]) {
+      expect(capability('running')).toBe(true);
+      expect(capability('stopped')).toBe(false);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('falls back to stopped rather than guessing a sending mode', () => {
+    expect(parseBotMode('scan')).toBe('scan');
+    expect(parseBotMode(null)).toBe('stopped');
+    expect(parseBotMode('paused')).toBe('stopped');
+    expect(parseBotMode(undefined, 'running')).toBe('running');
+    expect(isBotMode('paused')).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('runtime state persistence', () => {
+  function db(): Database.Database {
+    const database = new Database(':memory:');
+    runMigrations(database);
+    return database;
+  }
+
+  function repo(): RuntimeStateRepository {
+    return new RuntimeStateRepository(db());
+  }
+
+  it('round-trips every mode', () => {
+    const state = repo();
+    for (const mode of ['running', 'scan', 'stopped'] as const) {
+      state.setBotMode(mode);
+      expect(state.getBotMode()).toBe(mode);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('reports scan as not-running for the legacy boolean readers', () => {
+    const state = repo();
+    state.setBotMode('scan');
+    expect(state.isBotRunning()).toBe(false);
+    state.setBotRunning(true);
+    expect(state.getBotMode()).toBe('running');
+  });
+
+  it('defaults to stopped before anything has been persisted', () => {
+    expect(repo().getBotMode()).toBe('stopped');
+  });
+
+  it('reads a pre-migration row that only has the boolean', () => {
+    const database = db();
+    database.prepare('INSERT INTO runtime_state (id, bot_running, bot_mode, updated_at) VALUES (1, 1, NULL, 0)').run();
+    expect(new RuntimeStateRepository(database).getBotMode()).toBe('running');
+  });
+});

tests/control-auth.test.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ afterEach(async () => {
 
 describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
   it('refuses to start the bot until full account authentication', async () => {
-    const setBotRunning = vi.fn();
+    const setBotMode = vi.fn();
     const app = express();
     app.use(createControlRouter({
       services: {
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
           ensureFullyAuthenticated: vi.fn(async () => false),
         },
       },
-      setBotRunning,
+      getBotMode: () => 'stopped',
+      setBotMode,
       activity: { push: vi.fn() },
       logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
     } as never));
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
 
     expect(response.status).toBe(409);
     expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ success: false, authenticated: false });
-    expect(setBotRunning).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(setBotMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
   it('renews an expired authentication lease before starting the bot', async () => {
@@ -50,8 +51,8 @@ describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
           ensureFullyAuthenticated,
         },
       },
-      getBotRunning: () => running,
+      getBotMode: () => (running ? 'running' : 'stopped'),
-      setBotRunning: (next: boolean) => { running = next; },
+      setBotMode: (next: string) => { running = next === 'running'; },
       activity: { push: vi.fn() },
       logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
       broadcaster: { dashboardEvents: { bot: vi.fn() } },
@@ -86,8 +87,8 @@ describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
           get: () => runtime,
         },
       },
-      getBotRunning: () => running,
+      getBotMode: () => (running ? 'running' : 'stopped'),
-      setBotRunning: (next: boolean) => { running = next; },
+      setBotMode: (next: string) => { running = next === 'running'; },
       activity: { push: vi.fn() },
       logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
       broadcaster: { dashboardEvents: { bot: vi.fn() } },
@@ -103,4 +104,84 @@ describe('bot control account authentication gate', () => {
     expect(ensureFullyAuthenticated).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
     expect(running).toBe(true);
   });
+  it('refuses scan mode too — it drives the browser to refresh chats', async () => {
+    const setBotMode = vi.fn();
+    const app = express();
+    app.use(createControlRouter({
+      services: {
+        accountAuth: {
+          isFullyAuthenticated: () => false,
+          ensureFullyAuthenticated: vi.fn(async () => false),
+        },
+      },
+      getBotMode: () => 'stopped',
+      setBotMode,
+      activity: { push: vi.fn() },
+      logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
+    } as never));
+    const server = app.listen(0);
+    servers.push(server);
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.once('listening', resolve));
+    const { port } = server.address() as AddressInfo;
+
+    const response = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/scan`, { method: 'POST' });
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(409);
+    expect(setBotMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('rejects an unknown mode without touching runtime state', async () => {
+    const setBotMode = vi.fn();
+    const app = express();
+    app.use(express.json());
+    app.use(createControlRouter({
+      services: { accountAuth: { isFullyAuthenticated: () => true } },
+      getBotMode: () => 'stopped',
+      setBotMode,
+      activity: { push: vi.fn() },
+      logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
+    } as never));
+    const server = app.listen(0);
+    servers.push(server);
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.once('listening', resolve));
+    const { port } = server.address() as AddressInfo;
+
+    const response = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/mode`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ mode: 'paused' }),
+    });
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(400);
+    expect(setBotMode).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('switches a running bot into scan mode', async () => {
+    let mode = 'running';
+    const app = express();
+    app.use(express.json());
+    app.use(createControlRouter({
+      config: { browser: { dryRun: false } },
+      services: { accountAuth: { isFullyAuthenticated: () => true } },
+      getBotMode: () => mode,
+      setBotMode: (next: string) => { mode = next; },
+      activity: { push: vi.fn() },
+      logger: { warn: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn() },
+      broadcaster: { dashboardEvents: { bot: vi.fn() } },
+    } as never));
+    const server = app.listen(0);
+    servers.push(server);
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.once('listening', resolve));
+    const { port } = server.address() as AddressInfo;
+
+    const response = await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/mode`, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ mode: 'scan' }),
+    });
+
+    expect(response.status).toBe(200);
+    expect(await response.json()).toMatchObject({ success: true, running: false, mode: 'scan' });
+    expect(mode).toBe('scan');
+  });
 });

tests/conversation-automation.test.ts

@@ -505,6 +505,22 @@ describe('conversation automation', () => {
     expect(claims.markAttempt).toHaveBeenCalledWith('room-alice', 'in-1');
   });
 
+  it('refreshes chats and keeps the backlog visible in scan mode without replying', async () => {
+    const { service, chat, ai } = harness();
+    chat.getCachedConversations.mockResolvedValue([incoming(1)]);
+
+    const results = await service.processPendingConversations(undefined, { scanOnly: true });
+
+    expect(results).toEqual([]);
+    expect(chat.refreshTopChats).toHaveBeenCalledWith(25);
+    // No AI spend and no outbound traffic — the reply is left for a human.
+    expect(ai.generateReply).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(ai.generateMediaAsk).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(chat.sendChatMessage).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(service.getPriorityStatus()).toMatchObject({ actionableBacklog: 1 });
+    expect(await service.hasActionableReplies()).toBe(true);
+  });
+
   it('refreshes a wider reply window and drains actionable conversations oldest first', async () => {
     const { service, chat } = harness();
     const newer = { ...incoming(2), username: 'newer', roomId: 'room-newer', url: '/room/newer' };

tests/dashboard/app.test.tsx

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { createDashboardRoutes } from '../../apps/dashboard/src/app/router.js';
 
 interface TestStatsOverrides {
   isRunning?: boolean;
+  mode?: 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopped';
   recentActivity?: readonly unknown[];
   accounts?: readonly unknown[];
 }
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ const server = setupServer();
 function createStats(overrides: TestStatsOverrides = {}) {
   return {
     isRunning: overrides.isRunning ?? false,
+    mode: overrides.mode ?? (overrides.isRunning ? 'running' : 'stopped'),
     dryRunMode: true,
     totalProcessed: 18,
     totalMessagesSent: 12,
@@ -402,9 +404,9 @@ describe('dashboard foundation', () => {
     installSuccessfulApi();
     let startRequests = 0;
     server.use(
-      http.post('/api/start', () => {
+      http.post('/api/mode', () => {
         startRequests += 1;
-        return HttpResponse.json({ success: true, running: true });
+        return HttpResponse.json({ success: true, running: true, mode: 'running' });
       }),
     );
     const user = userEvent.setup();
@@ -424,10 +426,32 @@ describe('dashboard foundation', () => {
     expect(startRequests).toBe(1);
   });
 
+  it('offers scan mode alongside start and posts the chosen mode', async () => {
+    installSuccessfulApi();
+    let requested: string | null = null;
+    server.use(
+      http.post('/api/mode', async ({ request }) => {
+        requested = ((await request.json()) as { mode: string }).mode;
+        return HttpResponse.json({ success: true, running: false, mode: 'scan' });
+      }),
+    );
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderDashboard();
+
+    await user.click(await screen.findByRole('button', { name: 'Scan mode' }));
+    const dialog = screen.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Switch to scan mode?' });
+    expect(dialog).toHaveTextContent('nothing is sent');
+
+    await user.click(within(dialog).getByRole('button', { name: 'Confirm scan mode' }));
+
+    expect(await screen.findByText('Scanning', { selector: '[data-bot-status]' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(requested).toBe('scan');
+  });
+
   it('shows a start failure inside the confirmation dialog instead of a stray toast', async () => {
     installSuccessfulApi();
     server.use(
-      http.post('/api/start', () => HttpResponse.json({ error: 'Browser runtime is not ready' }, { status: 503 })),
+      http.post('/api/mode', () => HttpResponse.json({ error: 'Browser runtime is not ready' }, { status: 503 })),
     );
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     renderDashboard();

tests/dashboard/shell-status.test.ts

@@ -4,16 +4,23 @@ import { deriveShellStatus } from '../../apps/dashboard/src/app/shell-status.js'
 describe('global shell status', () => {
   it('derives safety-critical labels from authoritative snapshots', () => {
     expect(deriveShellStatus({
-      stats: { isRunning: true, dryRunMode: true, invitationCooldown: { reason: 'Reddit cooldown' } },
+      stats: { mode: 'running', dryRunMode: true, invitationCooldown: { reason: 'Reddit cooldown' } },
       reddit: { ready: true, loggedIn: true, status: 'authenticated' },
       realtime: { status: 'reconnecting', isStale: true },
       sync: { syncing: true, syncingKind: 'full' },
     })).toEqual({
       bot: 'Running (dry run)', reddit: 'Reddit authenticated', realtime: 'Realtime reconnecting (stale)',
-      cooldown: 'Reddit cooldown', sync: 'Full sync active', controlAction: 'stop', controlDisabled: false,
+      cooldown: 'Reddit cooldown', sync: 'Full sync active', controlAction: 'stopped', controlDisabled: false,
     });
   });
 
+  it('labels scan mode and offers a full start as the next step', () => {
+    expect(deriveShellStatus({
+      stats: { mode: 'scan', dryRunMode: false, invitationCooldown: null },
+      realtime: { status: 'connected', isStale: false },
+    })).toMatchObject({ bot: 'Scanning', controlAction: 'running' });
+  });
+
   it('guards bot controls until the authoritative bot state is available', () => {
     expect(deriveShellStatus({ realtime: { status: 'idle', isStale: true } })).toMatchObject({
       bot: 'Bot state unavailable', controlDisabled: true,

tests/reddit-account-runtime-builder.test.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import type { RedditPost } from '../src/reddit/api.js';
 import type { RedditAccountRuntimeResources } from '../src/services/reddit-account-runtime.js';
-import { materializePreparedPostForAccount } from '../src/services/reddit-account-runtime-builder.js';
+import { AccountRuntimeLoop, materializePreparedPostForAccount } from '../src/services/reddit-account-runtime-builder.js';
 import type { ProcessedPost } from '../src/services/processor.js';
 
 describe('materializePreparedPostForAccount', () => {
@@ -38,3 +38,91 @@ describe('materializePreparedPostForAccount', () => {
     expect(updateAnalysis).toHaveBeenCalledWith('post-1', 'analysis', 'message');
   });
 });
+
+describe('AccountRuntimeLoop mode gating', () => {
+  function loopHarness(getBotMode: () => 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopped') {
+    const conversationAutomation = { processPendingConversations: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]) };
+    const responseChecker = { checkForResponses: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]) };
+    const mediaSyncService = { start: vi.fn(), stop: vi.fn() };
+    const chatService = {
+      runStartupSync: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      enrichUsernames: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+    };
+    const resources = {
+      conversationAutomation,
+      responseChecker,
+      mediaSyncService,
+      chatService,
+      accountAuth: {
+        isFullyAuthenticated: () => true,
+        getSnapshot: () => ({ redditUsername: 'tester' }),
+      },
+      activityLogRepo: { insert: vi.fn() },
+      recipientAccountStatusService: { start: vi.fn(), stop: vi.fn() },
+      establishmentService: { start: vi.fn(), stop: vi.fn() },
+      browserClient: { close: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined) },
+    };
+    const config = { reddit: { pollIntervalMs: 1_000 } };
+    const logger = { info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn(), error: vi.fn(), debug: vi.fn() };
+    const loop = new AccountRuntimeLoop(
+      resources as never, config as never, logger as never, getBotMode, { } as never,
+    );
+    return { loop, conversationAutomation, responseChecker, mediaSyncService, chatService };
+  }
+
+  /** Lets the loop complete at least one full pass before we assert. */
+  async function runBriefly(loop: AccountRuntimeLoop): Promise<void> {
+    loop.start();
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 30));
+    await loop.stop();
+  }
+
+  it('keeps conversations in sync in scan mode but suppresses replies', async () => {
+    const fixture = loopHarness(() => 'scan');
+
+    await runBriefly(fixture.loop);
+
+    expect(fixture.conversationAutomation.processPendingConversations)
+      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.anything(), { scanOnly: true });
+    expect(fixture.responseChecker.checkForResponses).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fixture.mediaSyncService.start).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fixture.chatService.runStartupSync).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('sends replies in running mode', async () => {
+    const fixture = loopHarness(() => 'running');
+
+    await runBriefly(fixture.loop);
+
+    expect(fixture.conversationAutomation.processPendingConversations)
+      .toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.anything(), { scanOnly: false });
+  });
+
+  it('halts every background refresh when stopped', async () => {
+    const fixture = loopHarness(() => 'stopped');
+
+    await runBriefly(fixture.loop);
+
+    expect(fixture.conversationAutomation.processPendingConversations).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fixture.responseChecker.checkForResponses).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fixture.mediaSyncService.start).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fixture.chatService.runStartupSync).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('stops the background media sync when the operator drops from scan to stopped', async () => {
+    let mode: 'running' | 'scan' | 'stopped' = 'scan';
+    const fixture = loopHarness(() => mode);
+
+    fixture.loop.start();
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 30));
+    expect(fixture.mediaSyncService.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    mode = 'stopped';
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 30));
+    await fixture.loop.stop();
+
+    expect(fixture.mediaSyncService.stop).toHaveBeenCalled();
+    // Only ever started once — the reconcile must not re-enter on every tick.
+    expect(fixture.mediaSyncService.start).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+});

tests/web/control-realtime.test.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import express from 'express';
+import type { BotMode } from '../../src/services/bot-mode.js';
 import type { AddressInfo } from 'node:net';
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 import type { WebContext } from '../../src/web/context.js';
@@ -6,13 +7,13 @@ import { createControlRouter } from '../../src/web/routes/control.js';
 
 describe('control route realtime events', () => {
   it('publishes the authoritative bot state after each successful transition', async () => {
-    let running = false;
+    let mode: BotMode = 'stopped';
     const bot = vi.fn();
     const context = {
       config: { browser: { dryRun: true } },
       services: { accountAuth: { isFullyAuthenticated: () => true } },
-      getBotRunning: () => running,
+      getBotMode: () => mode,
-      setBotRunning: (next: boolean) => { running = next; },
+      setBotMode: (next: BotMode) => { mode = next; },
       activity: { push: vi.fn() },
       logger: { info: vi.fn() },
       broadcaster: { dashboardEvents: { bot } },
@@ -24,12 +25,16 @@ describe('control route realtime events', () => {
 
     try {
       expect((await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/api/start`, { method: 'POST' })).status).toBe(200);
-      expect(running).toBe(true);
+      expect(mode).toBe('running');
-      expect(bot).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ running: true, dryRun: true });
+      expect(bot).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ mode: 'running', dryRun: true });
+
+      expect((await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/api/scan`, { method: 'POST' })).status).toBe(200);
+      expect(mode).toBe('scan');
+      expect(bot).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ mode: 'scan', dryRun: true });
 
       expect((await fetch(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}/api/stop`, { method: 'POST' })).status).toBe(200);
-      expect(running).toBe(false);
+      expect(mode).toBe('stopped');
-      expect(bot).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ running: false, dryRun: true });
+      expect(bot).toHaveBeenLastCalledWith({ mode: 'stopped', dryRun: true });
     } finally {
       await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.close(() => resolve()));
     }

tests/web/stats-route.test.ts

@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ describe('stats route account status', () => {
       repos: { messages: { getRecent: () => [] } },
       activity: { recent: () => [], totalProcessed: () => 0 },
       getBotRunning: () => true,
+      getBotMode: () => 'running',
       getMessagesThisHour: () => 0,
     } as unknown as WebContext;
     const app = express().use('/api', createStatsRouter(context));