diff --git a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/ExecApprovals.swift b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/ExecApprovals.swift
index 20a2e0644d00..0880e5feaf17 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/ExecApprovals.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Sources/OpenClaw/ExecApprovals.swift
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import CryptoKit
+import Darwin
 import Foundation
 import OSLog
 import Security
@@ -229,6 +230,12 @@ enum ExecApprovalsStore {
     private static let secureStateDirPermissions = 0o700
     private static let fileLock = NSRecursiveLock()
 
+    private enum LegacyMigrationResult {
+        case notNeeded
+        case migrated
+        case blocked
+    }
+
     private static func withFileLock<T>(_ body: () throws -> T) rethrows -> T {
         self.fileLock.lock()
         defer { self.fileLock.unlock() }
@@ -243,6 +250,195 @@ enum ExecApprovalsStore {
         OpenClawPaths.stateDirURL.appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.sock").path
     }
 
+    private static func legacyStateDirURLs() -> [URL] {
+        if let home = OpenClawEnv.path("OPENCLAW_HOME") {
+            var urls = [
+                URL(fileURLWithPath: home, isDirectory: true)
+                    .appendingPathComponent(".openclaw", isDirectory: true),
+            ]
+            let osHomeURL = FileManager().homeDirectoryForCurrentUser
+                .appendingPathComponent(".openclaw", isDirectory: true)
+            if !urls.contains(where: {
+                $0.standardizedFileURL.path == osHomeURL.standardizedFileURL.path
+            }) {
+                urls.append(osHomeURL)
+            }
+            return urls
+        }
+        return [
+            FileManager().homeDirectoryForCurrentUser
+                .appendingPathComponent(".openclaw", isDirectory: true),
+        ]
+    }
+
+    private static func legacyFileURLIfPending() -> URL? {
+        guard OpenClawEnv.path("OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR") != nil else { return nil }
+        let targetURL = self.fileURL()
+        for stateDirURL in self.legacyStateDirURLs() {
+            let legacyURL = stateDirURL
+                .appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.json", isDirectory: false)
+            guard legacyURL.standardizedFileURL.path != targetURL.standardizedFileURL.path else {
+                continue
+            }
+            guard FileManager().fileExists(atPath: legacyURL.path) else { continue }
+            guard !FileManager().fileExists(atPath: targetURL.path) else { return nil }
+            return legacyURL
+        }
+        return nil
+    }
+
+    private static func unmigratedLegacyFallbackFile() -> ExecApprovalsFile {
+        ExecApprovalsFile(
+            version: 1,
+            socket: nil,
+            defaults: ExecApprovalsDefaults(
+                security: .deny,
+                ask: .always,
+                askFallback: .deny,
+                autoAllowSkills: nil),
+            agents: [:])
+    }
+
+    private static func isLegacyDefaultSocketPath(_ raw: String, legacyFileURL: URL) -> Bool {
+        let trimmed = raw.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
+        if trimmed.isEmpty { return true }
+        let expanded = self.expandPath(trimmed)
+        let legacySocket = legacyFileURL.deletingLastPathComponent()
+            .appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.sock", isDirectory: false)
+            .path
+        return URL(fileURLWithPath: expanded).standardizedFileURL.path
+            == URL(fileURLWithPath: legacySocket).standardizedFileURL.path
+    }
+
+    private static func hasSymlinkParent(_ url: URL) -> Bool {
+        var cursor = url.deletingLastPathComponent()
+        let manager = FileManager()
+        while true {
+            var isDirectory = ObjCBool(false)
+            if manager.fileExists(atPath: cursor.path, isDirectory: &isDirectory) {
+                if (try? manager.destinationOfSymbolicLink(atPath: cursor.path)) != nil {
+                    return true
+                }
+            }
+            let parent = cursor.deletingLastPathComponent()
+            if parent.path == cursor.path { return false }
+            cursor = parent
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static func archiveMigratedLegacyFile(_ legacyURL: URL) throws -> URL {
+        let manager = FileManager()
+        var archiveURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "\(legacyURL.path).migrated")
+        if manager.fileExists(atPath: archiveURL.path) {
+            archiveURL = URL(fileURLWithPath: "\(archiveURL.path)-\(UUID().uuidString)")
+        }
+        try manager.moveItem(at: legacyURL, to: archiveURL)
+        return archiveURL
+    }
+
+    private static func writeMigratedFileExclusively(_ data: Data, to targetURL: URL) throws -> Bool {
+        let tempURL = targetURL.deletingLastPathComponent()
+            .appendingPathComponent(".exec-approvals.migration.\(UUID().uuidString)")
+        let fd = open(tempURL.path, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_EXCL, S_IRUSR | S_IWUSR)
+        if fd == -1 {
+            throw POSIXError(POSIXErrorCode(rawValue: errno) ?? .EIO)
+        }
+        var closed = false
+        defer {
+            if !closed { close(fd) }
+        }
+        do {
+            try data.withUnsafeBytes { rawBuffer in
+                guard let base = rawBuffer.baseAddress else { return }
+                var offset = 0
+                while offset < rawBuffer.count {
+                    let written = Darwin.write(
+                        fd,
+                        base.advanced(by: offset),
+                        rawBuffer.count - offset)
+                    if written < 0 {
+                        throw POSIXError(POSIXErrorCode(rawValue: errno) ?? .EIO)
+                    }
+                    offset += written
+                }
+            }
+            close(fd)
+            closed = true
+            let copied = copyfile(
+                tempURL.path,
+                targetURL.path,
+                nil,
+                copyfile_flags_t(COPYFILE_EXCL))
+            if copied == -1 {
+                if errno == EEXIST {
+                    try? FileManager().removeItem(at: tempURL)
+                    return false
+                }
+                try? FileManager().removeItem(at: targetURL)
+                throw POSIXError(POSIXErrorCode(rawValue: errno) ?? .EIO)
+            }
+            try? FileManager().removeItem(at: tempURL)
+            return true
+        } catch {
+            try? FileManager().removeItem(at: tempURL)
+            throw error
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static func migrateLegacyFileIfNeeded() -> LegacyMigrationResult {
+        guard let legacyURL = self.legacyFileURLIfPending() else { return .notNeeded }
+        let targetURL = self.fileURL()
+        do {
+            if self.hasSymlinkParent(targetURL) {
+                throw NSError(domain: "ExecApprovals", code: 10, userInfo: [
+                    NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "target path has a symlink parent",
+                ])
+            }
+            let data = try Data(contentsOf: legacyURL)
+            var file = try JSONDecoder().decode(ExecApprovalsFile.self, from: data)
+            guard file.version == 1 else {
+                throw NSError(domain: "ExecApprovals", code: 11, userInfo: [
+                    NSLocalizedDescriptionKey: "unsupported legacy approvals version",
+                ])
+            }
+            file = self.normalizeIncoming(file)
+            let rawSocketPath = file.socket?.path?
+                .trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
+            if self.isLegacyDefaultSocketPath(rawSocketPath, legacyFileURL: legacyURL) {
+                if file.socket == nil {
+                    file.socket = ExecApprovalsSocketConfig(path: nil, token: nil)
+                }
+                file.socket?.path = self.socketPath()
+            }
+            let encoder = JSONEncoder()
+            encoder.outputFormatting = [.prettyPrinted, .sortedKeys]
+            let migrated = try encoder.encode(file)
+            self.ensureSecureStateDirectory()
+            try FileManager().createDirectory(
+                at: targetURL.deletingLastPathComponent(),
+                withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+            if FileManager().fileExists(atPath: targetURL.path) { return .notNeeded }
+            let created = try self.writeMigratedFileExclusively(migrated, to: targetURL)
+            if !created { return .notNeeded }
+            try? FileManager().setAttributes(
+                [.posixPermissions: 0o600],
+                ofItemAtPath: targetURL.path)
+            do {
+                _ = try self.archiveMigratedLegacyFile(legacyURL)
+            } catch {
+                self.logger
+                    .warning(
+                        "exec approvals legacy archive failed: \(error.localizedDescription, privacy: .public)")
+            }
+            return .migrated
+        } catch {
+            self.logger
+                .error(
+                    "exec approvals legacy migration failed: \(error.localizedDescription, privacy: .public)")
+            return .blocked
+        }
+    }
+
     static func normalizeIncoming(_ file: ExecApprovalsFile) -> ExecApprovalsFile {
         let socketPath = file.socket?.path?.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
         let token = file.socket?.token?.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines) ?? ""
@@ -278,6 +474,14 @@ enum ExecApprovalsStore {
 
     static func readSnapshot() -> ExecApprovalsSnapshot {
         self.withFileLock {
+            if self.legacyFileURLIfPending() != nil {
+                let file = self.unmigratedLegacyFallbackFile()
+                return ExecApprovalsSnapshot(
+                    path: self.fileURL().path,
+                    exists: false,
+                    hash: self.hashRaw(nil),
+                    file: file)
+            }
             let url = self.fileURL()
             guard FileManager().fileExists(atPath: url.path) else {
                 return ExecApprovalsSnapshot(
@@ -322,6 +526,14 @@ enum ExecApprovalsStore {
 
     static func loadFile() -> ExecApprovalsFile {
         self.withFileLock {
+            if self.legacyFileURLIfPending() != nil {
+                switch self.migrateLegacyFileIfNeeded() {
+                case .migrated, .notNeeded:
+                    break
+                case .blocked:
+                    return self.unmigratedLegacyFallbackFile()
+                }
+            }
             let url = self.fileURL()
             guard FileManager().fileExists(atPath: url.path) else {
                 return ExecApprovalsFile(version: 1, socket: nil, defaults: nil, agents: [:])
@@ -361,6 +573,14 @@ enum ExecApprovalsStore {
 
     static func ensureFile() -> ExecApprovalsFile {
         self.withFileLock {
+            if self.legacyFileURLIfPending() != nil {
+                switch self.migrateLegacyFileIfNeeded() {
+                case .migrated, .notNeeded:
+                    break
+                case .blocked:
+                    return self.unmigratedLegacyFallbackFile()
+                }
+            }
             self.ensureSecureStateDirectory()
             let url = self.fileURL()
             let existed = FileManager().fileExists(atPath: url.path)
diff --git a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests.swift b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests.swift
index eaaa452cfa5b..4ef941237795 100644
--- a/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests.swift
+++ b/apps/macos/Tests/OpenClawIPCTests/ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests.swift
@@ -16,6 +16,23 @@ struct ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests {
         }
     }
 
+    private func withTempHomeAndStateDir(
+        _ body: @escaping @Sendable (URL, URL) async throws -> Void) async throws
+    {
+        let root = FileManager().temporaryDirectory
+            .appendingPathComponent("openclaw-home-state-\(UUID().uuidString)", isDirectory: true)
+        let home = root.appendingPathComponent("home", isDirectory: true)
+        let stateDir = root.appendingPathComponent("state", isDirectory: true)
+        defer { try? FileManager().removeItem(at: root) }
+
+        try await TestIsolation.withEnvValues([
+            "OPENCLAW_HOME": home.path,
+            "OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR": stateDir.path,
+        ]) {
+            try await body(home, stateDir)
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     func `ensure file skips rewrite when unchanged`() async throws {
         try await self.withTempStateDir { _ in
@@ -30,6 +47,50 @@ struct ExecApprovalsStoreRefactorTests {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    func `ensure file migrates default approvals into custom state dir`() async throws {
+        try await self.withTempHomeAndStateDir { home, stateDir in
+            let legacyDir = home.appendingPathComponent(".openclaw", isDirectory: true)
+            try FileManager().createDirectory(
+                at: legacyDir,
+                withIntermediateDirectories: true)
+            let legacySocket = legacyDir.appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.sock").path
+            let legacyFile = legacyDir.appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.json")
+            let legacyJson = """
+            {
+              "version": 1,
+              "socket": {
+                "path": "\(legacySocket)",
+                "token": "legacy-token"
+              },
+              "defaults": {
+                "security": "deny",
+                "ask": "always"
+              },
+              "agents": {
+                "main": {
+                  "allowlist": [{ "pattern": "git status" }]
+                }
+              }
+            }
+            """
+            try Data(legacyJson.utf8).write(to: legacyFile)
+
+            let file = ExecApprovalsStore.ensureFile()
+            let targetURL = ExecApprovalsStore.fileURL()
+
+            #expect(targetURL.path == stateDir.appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.json").path)
+            #expect(FileManager().fileExists(atPath: targetURL.path))
+            #expect(file.socket?.path == stateDir.appendingPathComponent("exec-approvals.sock").path)
+            #expect(file.socket?.token == "legacy-token")
+            #expect(file.defaults?.security == .deny)
+            #expect(file.defaults?.ask == .always)
+            #expect(file.agents?["main"]?.allowlist?.map(\.pattern) == ["git status"])
+            #expect(!FileManager().fileExists(atPath: legacyFile.path))
+            #expect(FileManager().fileExists(atPath: "\(legacyFile.path).migrated"))
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     func `update allowlist accepts basename pattern`() async throws {
         try await self.withTempStateDir { _ in
diff --git a/docs/cli/approvals.md b/docs/cli/approvals.md
index 2a59d974b9fc..c807b1215d3e 100644
--- a/docs/cli/approvals.md
+++ b/docs/cli/approvals.md
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Use it when you want to:
 
 - inspect the local requested policy, host approvals file, and effective merge
 - apply a local preset such as YOLO or deny-all
-- synchronize local `tools.exec.*` and local `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`
+- synchronize local `tools.exec.*` and the local host approvals file
 
 Examples:
 
@@ -183,7 +183,9 @@ Targeting notes:
 - `--node` uses the same resolver as `openclaw nodes` (id, name, ip, or id prefix).
 - `--agent` defaults to `"*"`, which applies to all agents.
 - The node host must advertise `system.execApprovals.get/set` (macOS app or headless node host).
-- Approvals files are stored per host at `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`.
+- Approvals files are stored per host in the OpenClaw state dir
+  (`$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.json`, or
+  `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` when the variable is unset).
 
 ## Related
 
diff --git a/docs/cli/node.md b/docs/cli/node.md
index 1f846d276b23..1a906473c11e 100644
--- a/docs/cli/node.md
+++ b/docs/cli/node.md
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ The node host stores its node id, token, display name, and gateway connection in
 
 `system.run` is gated by local exec approvals:
 
-- `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`
+- `$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.json`, or
+  `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` when the variable is unset
 - [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals)
 - `openclaw approvals --node <id|name|ip>` (edit from the Gateway)
 
diff --git a/docs/gateway/security/audit-checks.md b/docs/gateway/security/audit-checks.md
index 394f1271edd3..945b309f9f01 100644
--- a/docs/gateway/security/audit-checks.md
+++ b/docs/gateway/security/audit-checks.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ exhaustive):
 | `tools.exec.host_sandbox_no_sandbox_agents`                   | warn          | Per-agent `exec host=sandbox` fails closed when sandbox is off                       | `agents.list[].tools.exec.host`, `agents.list[].sandbox.mode`                                        | no       |
 | `tools.exec.security_full_configured`                         | warn/critical | Host exec is running with `security="full"`                                          | `tools.exec.security`, `agents.list[].tools.exec.security`                                           | no       |
 | `tools.exec.fs_tools_disabled_but_exec_enabled`               | warn          | Filesystem tool policy does not make shell execution read-only                       | `tools.deny`, `agents.list[].tools.deny`, `agents.*.sandbox.workspaceAccess`                         | no       |
-| `tools.exec.auto_allow_skills_enabled`                        | warn          | Exec approvals trust skill bins implicitly                                           | `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`                                                                    | no       |
+| `tools.exec.auto_allow_skills_enabled`                        | warn          | Exec approvals trust skill bins implicitly                                           | host approvals file                                                                                  | no       |
 | `tools.exec.allowlist_interpreter_without_strict_inline_eval` | warn          | Interpreter allowlists permit inline eval without forced reapproval                  | `tools.exec.strictInlineEval`, `agents.list[].tools.exec.strictInlineEval`, exec approvals allowlist | no       |
 | `tools.exec.safe_bins_interpreter_unprofiled`                 | warn          | Interpreter/runtime bins in `safeBins` without explicit profiles broaden exec risk   | `tools.exec.safeBins`, `tools.exec.safeBinProfiles`, `agents.list[].tools.exec.*`                    | no       |
 | `tools.exec.safe_bins_broad_behavior`                         | warn          | Broad-behavior tools in `safeBins` weaken the low-risk stdin-filter trust model      | `tools.exec.safeBins`, `agents.list[].tools.exec.safeBins`                                           | no       |
diff --git a/docs/tools/exec-approvals-advanced.md b/docs/tools/exec-approvals-advanced.md
index b3c22e3d4873..5b6911c2e0ee 100644
--- a/docs/tools/exec-approvals-advanced.md
+++ b/docs/tools/exec-approvals-advanced.md
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ Configuration location:
 - `safeBins` comes from config (`tools.exec.safeBins` or per-agent `agents.list[].tools.exec.safeBins`).
 - `safeBinTrustedDirs` comes from config (`tools.exec.safeBinTrustedDirs` or per-agent `agents.list[].tools.exec.safeBinTrustedDirs`).
 - `safeBinProfiles` comes from config (`tools.exec.safeBinProfiles` or per-agent `agents.list[].tools.exec.safeBinProfiles`). Per-agent profile keys override global keys.
-- allowlist entries live in host-local `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` under `agents.<id>.allowlist` (or via Control UI / `openclaw approvals allowlist ...`).
+- allowlist entries live in the host-local approvals file under `agents.<id>.allowlist` (or via Control UI / `openclaw approvals allowlist ...`).
 - `openclaw security audit` warns with `tools.exec.safe_bins_interpreter_unprofiled` when interpreter/runtime bins appear in `safeBins` without explicit profiles.
 - `openclaw doctor --fix` can scaffold missing custom `safeBinProfiles.<bin>` entries as `{}` (review and tighten afterward). Interpreter/runtime bins are not auto-scaffolded.
 
diff --git a/docs/tools/exec-approvals.md b/docs/tools/exec-approvals.md
index baae33ad5ac1..08e7c50533a9 100644
--- a/docs/tools/exec-approvals.md
+++ b/docs/tools/exec-approvals.md
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Codex Guardian mapping, and ACPX harness permissions, see
 Effective policy is the **stricter** of `tools.exec.*` and approvals
 defaults; if an approvals field is omitted, the `tools.exec` value is
 used. Host exec also uses local approvals state on that machine - a
-host-local `ask: "always"` in `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` keeps
+host-local `ask: "always"` in the execution host approvals file keeps
 prompting even if session or config defaults request `ask: "on-miss"`.
 </Note>
 
@@ -73,12 +73,20 @@ Exec approvals are enforced locally on the execution host:
 
 ## Settings and storage
 
-Approvals live in a local JSON file on the execution host:
+Approvals live in a local JSON file on the execution host. When
+`OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR` is set, the file follows that state directory;
+otherwise it uses the default OpenClaw state directory:
 
 ```text
+$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.json
+# otherwise
 ~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json
 ```
 
+The default approval socket follows the same root:
+`$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.sock`, or
+`~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.sock` when the variable is unset.
+
 Example schema:
 
 ```json
@@ -210,7 +218,7 @@ agent under `agents.list[].tools.exec.commandHighlighting`.
 If you want host exec to run without approval prompts, you must open
 **both** policy layers - requested exec policy in OpenClaw config
 (`tools.exec.*`) **and** host-local approvals policy in
-`~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`.
+the execution host approvals file.
 
 OpenClaw defaults omitted `askFallback` to `deny`. Set host
 `askFallback` to `full` explicitly when a no-UI approval prompt should
@@ -281,8 +289,7 @@ openclaw exec-policy preset yolo
 That local shortcut updates both:
 
 - Local `tools.exec.host/security/ask`.
-- Local `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` defaults, including
-  `askFallback: "full"`.
+- Local approvals file defaults, including `askFallback: "full"`.
 
 It is intentionally local-only. To change gateway-host or node-host
 approvals remotely, use `openclaw approvals set --gateway` or
@@ -425,7 +432,7 @@ shows last-used metadata per pattern so you can keep the list tidy.
 The target selector chooses **Gateway** (local approvals) or a **Node**.
 Nodes must advertise `system.execApprovals.get/set` (macOS app or
 headless node host). If a node does not advertise exec approvals yet,
-edit its local `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json` directly.
+edit its local approvals file directly.
 
 CLI: `openclaw approvals` supports gateway or node editing - see
 [Approvals CLI](/cli/approvals).
diff --git a/docs/tools/exec.md b/docs/tools/exec.md
index 72e14f1def6a..1a37b9fb3f76 100644
--- a/docs/tools/exec.md
+++ b/docs/tools/exec.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ Where to execute. `auto` resolves to `sandbox` when a sandbox runtime is active
 
 <ParamField path="security" type="'deny' | 'allowlist' | 'full'">
 Ignored for normal tool calls. `gateway` / `node` security is controlled by
-`tools.exec.security` and `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`; elevated mode can
+`tools.exec.security` and the host approvals file; elevated mode can
 force `security=full` only when the operator explicitly grants elevated access.
 </ParamField>
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Notes:
 - `tools.exec.mode` is the normalized policy knob. Values are `deny`, `allowlist`, `ask`, `auto`, and `full`. `auto` runs deterministic allowlist/safe-bin matches directly and routes every remaining exec approval case through OpenClaw's native auto reviewer before asking a human. `ask` / `ask=always` still asks a human every time.
 - With no extra config, `host=auto` still "just works": no sandbox means it resolves to `gateway`; a live sandbox means it stays in the sandbox.
 - `elevated` escapes the sandbox onto the configured host path: `gateway` by default, or `node` when `tools.exec.host=node` (or the session default is `host=node`). It is only available when elevated access is enabled for the current session/provider.
-- `gateway`/`node` approvals are controlled by `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`.
+- `gateway`/`node` approvals are controlled by the host approvals file.
 - `node` requires a paired node (companion app or headless node host).
 - If multiple nodes are available, set `exec.node` or `tools.exec.node` to select one.
 - `exec host=node` is the only shell-execution path for nodes; the legacy `nodes.run` wrapper has been removed.
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ Notes:
 - `tools.exec.host` (default: `auto`; resolves to `sandbox` when sandbox runtime is active, `gateway` otherwise)
 - `tools.exec.security` (default: `deny` for sandbox, `full` for gateway + node when unset)
 - `tools.exec.ask` (default: `off`)
-- No-approval host exec is the default for gateway + node. If you want approvals/allowlist behavior, tighten both `tools.exec.*` and the host `~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json`; see [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals#yolo-mode-no-approval).
+- No-approval host exec is the default for gateway + node. If you want approvals/allowlist behavior, tighten both `tools.exec.*` and the host approvals file; see [Exec approvals](/tools/exec-approvals#yolo-mode-no-approval).
 - YOLO comes from the host-policy defaults (`security=full`, `ask=off`), not from `host=auto`. If you want to force gateway or node routing, set `tools.exec.host` or use `/exec host=...`.
 - In `security=full` plus `ask=off` mode, host exec follows the configured policy directly; there is no extra heuristic command-obfuscation prefilter or script-preflight rejection layer.
 - `tools.exec.node` (default: unset)
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-host-shared.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-host-shared.ts
index 32ba67d30cb5..b777ce89a580 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-host-shared.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec-host-shared.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   maxAsk,
   resolveExecApprovalAllowedDecisions,
   resolveExecApprovals,
+  resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath,
   type ExecAsk,
   type ExecApprovalDecision,
   type ExecSecurity,
@@ -437,7 +438,7 @@ export function buildHeadlessExecApprovalDeniedMessage(params: {
   return [
     `exec denied: ${runLabel} cannot wait for interactive exec approval.`,
     `Effective host exec policy: security=${params.security} ask=${params.ask} askFallback=${params.askFallback}`,
-    "Stricter values from tools.exec and ~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json both apply.",
+    `Stricter values from tools.exec and ${resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath()} both apply.`,
     "Fix one of these:",
     '- align both files to security="full" and ask="off" for trusted local automation',
     "- keep allowlist mode and add an explicit allowlist entry for this command",
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.security-floor.test.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.security-floor.test.ts
index 530934e61ff7..14b3e189c633 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.security-floor.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.security-floor.test.ts
@@ -20,22 +20,39 @@ vi.mock("./tools/gateway.js", () => ({
 
 function installAllowlistedGogFixture(root: string): string {
   const binDir = path.join(root, "bin");
-  const openclawDir = path.join(root, ".openclaw");
   fs.mkdirSync(binDir, { recursive: true });
-  fs.mkdirSync(openclawDir, { recursive: true });
   const gogPath = path.join(binDir, "gog");
   fs.writeFileSync(gogPath, "#!/bin/sh\nprintf 'gog-ok %s\\n' \"$*\"\n", { mode: 0o755 });
-  fs.writeFileSync(
-    path.join(openclawDir, "exec-approvals.json"),
-    `${JSON.stringify({
-      version: 1,
-      defaults: { security: "allowlist", ask: "off", askFallback: "allowlist" },
-      agents: { "*": { allowlist: [{ pattern: gogPath }] } },
-    })}\n`,
-  );
+  writeExecApprovalsFixture(root, {
+    version: 1,
+    defaults: { security: "allowlist", ask: "off", askFallback: "allowlist" },
+    agents: { "*": { allowlist: [{ pattern: gogPath }] } },
+  });
   return binDir;
 }
 
+function writeExecApprovalsFixture(root: string, file: Record<string, unknown>): void {
+  const stateDir = process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR ?? path.join(root, "state");
+  fs.mkdirSync(stateDir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json"), `${JSON.stringify(file)}\n`);
+}
+
+function writeDenyExecApprovalsFixture(root: string): void {
+  writeExecApprovalsFixture(root, {
+    version: 1,
+    defaults: { security: "deny", ask: "off" },
+    agents: {},
+  });
+}
+
+function writeFullAskExecApprovalsFixture(root: string): void {
+  writeExecApprovalsFixture(root, {
+    version: 1,
+    defaults: { security: "full", ask: "always" },
+    agents: {},
+  });
+}
+
 describe("exec security floor", () => {
   let envSnapshot: ReturnType<typeof captureEnv>;
   let tempRoot: string | undefined;
@@ -189,12 +206,7 @@ describe("exec security floor", () => {
   });
 
   it("does not let host approval defaults deny implicit sandbox execution", async () => {
-    const openclawDir = path.join(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir(), ".openclaw");
-    fs.mkdirSync(openclawDir, { recursive: true });
-    fs.writeFileSync(
-      path.join(openclawDir, "exec-approvals.json"),
-      `${JSON.stringify({ version: 1, defaults: { security: "deny", ask: "off" }, agents: {} })}\n`,
-    );
+    writeDenyExecApprovalsFixture(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir());
     const buildExecSpec = vi.fn(async () => ({
       argv: ["/bin/sh", "-lc", "printf sandbox-ok"],
       env: process.env,
@@ -273,12 +285,7 @@ describe("exec security floor", () => {
   });
 
   it("intersects normalized gateway auto mode with host approval deny defaults", async () => {
-    const openclawDir = path.join(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir(), ".openclaw");
-    fs.mkdirSync(openclawDir, { recursive: true });
-    fs.writeFileSync(
-      path.join(openclawDir, "exec-approvals.json"),
-      `${JSON.stringify({ version: 1, defaults: { security: "deny", ask: "off" }, agents: {} })}\n`,
-    );
+    writeDenyExecApprovalsFixture(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir());
     const autoReviewer = vi.fn<ExecAutoReviewer>(async () => ({
       decision: "allow-once",
       risk: "low",
@@ -300,16 +307,11 @@ describe("exec security floor", () => {
   });
 
   it("uses agent-scoped host policy when clamping normalized modes", async () => {
-    const openclawDir = path.join(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir(), ".openclaw");
-    fs.mkdirSync(openclawDir, { recursive: true });
-    fs.writeFileSync(
-      path.join(openclawDir, "exec-approvals.json"),
-      `${JSON.stringify({
-        version: 1,
-        defaults: { security: "deny", ask: "off" },
-        agents: { main: { security: "full", ask: "off" } },
-      })}\n`,
-    );
+    writeExecApprovalsFixture(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir(), {
+      version: 1,
+      defaults: { security: "deny", ask: "off" },
+      agents: { main: { security: "full", ask: "off" } },
+    });
     const tool = createExecTool({
       host: "gateway",
       mode: "full",
@@ -326,12 +328,7 @@ describe("exec security floor", () => {
   });
 
   it("preserves host ask floors for elevated full gateway exec", async () => {
-    const openclawDir = path.join(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir(), ".openclaw");
-    fs.mkdirSync(openclawDir, { recursive: true });
-    fs.writeFileSync(
-      path.join(openclawDir, "exec-approvals.json"),
-      `${JSON.stringify({ version: 1, defaults: { security: "full", ask: "always" }, agents: {} })}\n`,
-    );
+    writeFullAskExecApprovalsFixture(tempRoot ?? os.tmpdir());
     const calls: string[] = [];
     vi.mocked(callGatewayTool).mockImplementation(async (method) => {
       calls.push(method);
diff --git a/src/cli/program/config-guard.test.ts b/src/cli/program/config-guard.test.ts
index 95c4a2b0a17c..2e71e4343e6b 100644
--- a/src/cli/program/config-guard.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/program/config-guard.test.ts
@@ -227,6 +227,22 @@ describe("ensureConfigReady", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("runs doctor flow before agent commands when default exec approvals must move to a custom state dir", async () => {
+    const root = useTempOpenClawHome();
+    const stateDir = path.join(root, "custom-state");
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = stateDir;
+    writeStateMarker(root, "exec-approvals.json");
+
+    await runEnsureConfigReady(["agent"]);
+
+    expect(loadAndMaybeMigrateDoctorConfigMock).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+    expect(loadAndMaybeMigrateDoctorConfigMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      migrateState: true,
+      migrateLegacyConfig: false,
+      invalidConfigNote: false,
+    });
+  });
+
   it.each([
     ["Discord model picker preferences", "discord/model-picker-preferences.json"],
     ["Discord thread bindings", "discord/thread-bindings.json"],
diff --git a/src/cli/program/config-guard.ts b/src/cli/program/config-guard.ts
index 356118b0a22f..97df3193986e 100644
--- a/src/cli/program/config-guard.ts
+++ b/src/cli/program/config-guard.ts
@@ -97,6 +97,20 @@ function hasBundledChannelLegacyStateMigrationInputs(stateDir: string, oauthDir:
   return dirHasFile(oauthDir, isLegacyWhatsAppAuthFile);
 }
 
+function hasLegacyExecApprovalsMigrationInput(stateDir: string): boolean {
+  if (!process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR?.trim()) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const homeDir = resolveRequiredHomeDir(process.env, os.homedir);
+  const sourcePath = path.join(homeDir, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.json");
+  const targetPath = path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json");
+  return (
+    path.resolve(sourcePath) !== path.resolve(targetPath) &&
+    fileOrDirExists(sourcePath) &&
+    !fileOrDirExists(targetPath)
+  );
+}
+
 function hasLegacyStateMigrationInputs(): boolean {
   // Only run migration prompts when old state actually exists in known legacy locations.
   const stateDir = resolveStateDir(process.env, os.homedir);
@@ -118,7 +132,9 @@ function hasLegacyStateMigrationInputs(): boolean {
       path.join(stateDir, "plugins", "installs.json"),
       path.join(stateDir, "sessions"),
       path.join(stateDir, "tasks", "runs.sqlite"),
-    ].some(fileOrDirExists) || hasBundledChannelLegacyStateMigrationInputs(stateDir, oauthDir)
+    ].some(fileOrDirExists) ||
+    hasBundledChannelLegacyStateMigrationInputs(stateDir, oauthDir) ||
+    hasLegacyExecApprovalsMigrationInput(stateDir)
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-config-preflight.state-migration.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor-config-preflight.state-migration.test.ts
index c662a7bf0926..aee93bdd8953 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-config-preflight.state-migration.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-config-preflight.state-migration.test.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ describe("runDoctorConfigPreflight state migration", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("limits invalid-config preflight to task sidecar migration", async () => {
+  it("limits invalid-config preflight to config-independent state migration", async () => {
     vi.clearAllMocks();
     readConfigFileSnapshot.mockResolvedValueOnce({
       exists: true,
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-security.ts b/src/commands/doctor-security.ts
index 9e8a2781bad6..d1cf5117ebab 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-security.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-security.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { isLoopbackHost, resolveGatewayBindHost } from "../gateway/net.js";
 import { resolveExecPolicyScopeSnapshot } from "../infra/exec-approvals-effective.js";
 import {
   loadExecApprovals,
+  resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath,
   type ExecAsk,
   type ExecMode,
   type ExecSecurity,
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ export async function collectSecurityWarnings(
   if (cfg.approvals?.exec?.enabled === false) {
     warnings.push(
       "- Note: approvals.exec.enabled=false disables approval forwarding only.",
-      "  Host exec gating still comes from ~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json.",
+      `  Host exec gating still comes from ${resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath()}.`,
       `  Check local policy with: ${formatCliCommand("openclaw approvals get --gateway")}`,
     );
   }
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor-state-migrations.test.ts b/src/commands/doctor-state-migrations.test.ts
index 045a5faca9b0..c2ae3163008a 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor-state-migrations.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor-state-migrations.test.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
   detectLegacyStateMigrations,
   resetAutoMigrateLegacyStateDirForTest,
   resetAutoMigrateLegacyStateForTest,
+  resetAutoMigrateLegacyTaskStateSidecarsForTest,
   runLegacyStateMigrations,
 } from "./doctor-state-migrations.js";
 
@@ -245,6 +246,7 @@ async function runTelegramAllowFromMigration(params: { root: string; cfg: OpenCl
 afterEach(async () => {
   resetAutoMigrateLegacyStateForTest();
   resetAutoMigrateLegacyStateDirForTest();
+  resetAutoMigrateLegacyTaskStateSidecarsForTest();
   closeOpenClawStateDatabaseForTest();
   setMaxPluginStateEntriesPerPluginForTests();
   resetPluginStateStoreForTests();
@@ -1857,6 +1859,141 @@ describe("doctor legacy state migrations", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("migrates default exec approvals into an explicit state dir", async () => {
+    const root = await makeTempRoot();
+    const stateDir = path.join(root, "custom-state");
+    const sourcePath = path.join(root, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.json");
+    const legacySocketPath = path.join(root, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.sock");
+    const targetPath = path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json");
+    const targetSocketPath = path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.sock");
+    writeJson5(sourcePath, {
+      version: 1,
+      socket: {
+        path: legacySocketPath,
+        token: "legacy-token",
+      },
+      defaults: {
+        security: "deny",
+        ask: "always",
+      },
+      agents: {
+        main: {
+          allowlist: [{ pattern: "git status" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const detected = await detectLegacyStateMigrations({
+      cfg: {},
+      env: { OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+      homedir: () => root,
+    });
+    expect(detected.preview).toContain(`- Exec approvals: ${sourcePath} → ${targetPath}`);
+
+    const result = await runLegacyStateMigrations({ detected });
+
+    expect(result.warnings).toStrictEqual([]);
+    expect(result.changes).toContain(`Migrated exec approvals → ${targetPath}`);
+    expect(result.changes).toContain(`Archived legacy exec approvals → ${sourcePath}.migrated`);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(sourcePath)).toBe(false);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(`${sourcePath}.migrated`)).toBe(true);
+    const migrated = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(targetPath, "utf8")) as {
+      socket?: { path?: string; token?: string };
+      defaults?: Record<string, unknown>;
+      agents?: Record<string, { allowlist?: Array<Record<string, unknown>> }>;
+    };
+    expect(migrated.socket?.path).toBe(targetSocketPath);
+    expect(migrated.socket?.token).toBe("legacy-token");
+    expect(migrated.defaults).toEqual({
+      security: "deny",
+      ask: "always",
+    });
+    expect(migrated.agents?.main?.allowlist?.[0]?.pattern).toBe("git status");
+  });
+
+  it("skips exec approvals migration when the target appears after detection", async () => {
+    const root = await makeTempRoot();
+    const stateDir = path.join(root, "custom-state");
+    const sourcePath = path.join(root, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.json");
+    const targetPath = path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json");
+    writeJson5(sourcePath, {
+      version: 1,
+      socket: {
+        token: "legacy-token",
+      },
+      defaults: {
+        security: "deny",
+      },
+    });
+    const detected = await detectLegacyStateMigrations({
+      cfg: {},
+      env: { OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+      homedir: () => root,
+    });
+    writeJson5(targetPath, {
+      version: 1,
+      socket: {
+        path: path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.sock"),
+        token: "current-token",
+      },
+      defaults: {
+        security: "full",
+        ask: "off",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const result = await runLegacyStateMigrations({ detected });
+
+    expect(result.warnings).toStrictEqual([]);
+    expect(result.changes).not.toContain(`Migrated exec approvals → ${targetPath}`);
+    const current = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(targetPath, "utf8")) as {
+      socket?: { token?: string };
+      defaults?: Record<string, unknown>;
+    };
+    expect(current.socket?.token).toBe("current-token");
+    expect(current.defaults).toEqual({
+      security: "full",
+      ask: "off",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("auto-migrates exec approvals without a valid config snapshot", async () => {
+    const root = await makeTempRoot();
+    const stateDir = path.join(root, "custom-state");
+    const sourcePath = path.join(root, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.json");
+    const targetPath = path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json");
+    writeJson5(sourcePath, {
+      version: 1,
+      socket: {
+        token: "legacy-token",
+      },
+      defaults: {
+        security: "deny",
+        ask: "always",
+      },
+    });
+
+    const result = await autoMigrateLegacyTaskStateSidecars({
+      env: { OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR: stateDir } as NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+      homedir: () => root,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.warnings).toStrictEqual([]);
+    expect(result.changes).toContain(`Migrated exec approvals → ${targetPath}`);
+    expect(result.changes).toContain(`Archived legacy exec approvals → ${sourcePath}.migrated`);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(sourcePath)).toBe(false);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(`${sourcePath}.migrated`)).toBe(true);
+    const migrated = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(targetPath, "utf8")) as {
+      socket?: { token?: string };
+      defaults?: Record<string, unknown>;
+    };
+    expect(migrated.socket?.token).toBe("legacy-token");
+    expect(migrated.defaults).toEqual({
+      security: "deny",
+      ask: "always",
+    });
+  });
+
   it("keeps the plugin-state sidecar when shared state already has a conflicting row", async () => {
     const root = await makeTempRoot();
     const sourcePath = writeLegacyPluginStateSidecar(root);
diff --git a/src/commands/doctor.e2e-harness.ts b/src/commands/doctor.e2e-harness.ts
index 772dc1b66160..80b76d7474c1 100644
--- a/src/commands/doctor.e2e-harness.ts
+++ b/src/commands/doctor.e2e-harness.ts
@@ -241,6 +241,11 @@ function createLegacyStateMigrationDetectionResult(params?: {
       sessionPath: "/tmp/state/session-delivery-queue",
       hasLegacy: false,
     },
+    execApprovals: {
+      sourcePath: "/tmp/state/exec-approvals.legacy.json",
+      targetPath: "/tmp/state/exec-approvals.json",
+      hasLegacy: false,
+    },
     channelPlans: {
       hasLegacy: false,
       plans: [],
diff --git a/src/infra/exec-approvals-effective.ts b/src/infra/exec-approvals-effective.ts
index b8e13a230cb4..7fb55b08f8ee 100644
--- a/src/infra/exec-approvals-effective.ts
+++ b/src/infra/exec-approvals-effective.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_AGENT_ID } from "../routing/session-key.js";
 import {
   DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVAL_ASK_FALLBACK,
   resolveExecApprovalAllowedDecisions,
+  resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath,
   type ExecApprovalDecision,
   maxAsk,
   minSecurity,
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@ import {
 
 const DEFAULT_REQUESTED_SECURITY: ExecSecurity = "full";
 const DEFAULT_REQUESTED_ASK: ExecAsk = "off";
-const DEFAULT_HOST_PATH = "~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json";
 const REQUESTED_DEFAULT_LABEL = {
   security: DEFAULT_REQUESTED_SECURITY,
   ask: DEFAULT_REQUESTED_ASK,
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ export function resolveExecPolicyScopeSnapshot(params: {
       ask: requestedPolicy.ask,
     },
   });
-  const hostPath = params.hostPath ?? DEFAULT_HOST_PATH;
+  const hostPath = params.hostPath ?? resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath();
   const effectiveSecurity = minSecurity(requestedPolicy.security, resolved.agent.security);
   const effectiveAsk = maxAsk(requestedPolicy.ask, resolved.agent.ask);
   const effectiveAskFallback = minSecurity(effectiveSecurity, resolved.agent.askFallback);
diff --git a/src/infra/exec-approvals-policy.test.ts b/src/infra/exec-approvals-policy.test.ts
index ea6a903f3a98..dba94fa8979f 100644
--- a/src/infra/exec-approvals-policy.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/exec-approvals-policy.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 // Tests execution approval policy matching and persistence.
+import path from "node:path";
 import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../config/config.js";
 import { DEFAULT_AGENT_ID } from "../routing/session-key.js";
@@ -550,6 +551,37 @@ describe("exec approvals policy helpers", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("uses OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR when reporting default host sources", () => {
+    const originalOpenClawStateDir = process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR;
+    const stateDir = path.join(process.cwd(), ".tmp-openclaw-state");
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = stateDir;
+    try {
+      const summary = resolveExecPolicyScopeSummary({
+        approvals: {
+          version: 1,
+          defaults: {
+            security: "allowlist",
+          },
+        },
+        scopeExecConfig: {
+          security: "full",
+        },
+        configPath: "tools.exec",
+        scopeLabel: "tools.exec",
+      });
+
+      expect(summary.security.hostSource).toBe(
+        `${path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json")} defaults.security`,
+      );
+    } finally {
+      if (originalOpenClawStateDir === undefined) {
+        delete process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR;
+      } else {
+        process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = originalOpenClawStateDir;
+      }
+    }
+  });
+
   it("does not let host ask=off suppress a stricter requested ask", () => {
     const summary = resolveExecPolicyScopeSummary({
       approvals: {
diff --git a/src/infra/exec-approvals-store.test.ts b/src/infra/exec-approvals-store.test.ts
index c06f4fb44f0b..2f94a0c32176 100644
--- a/src/infra/exec-approvals-store.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/exec-approvals-store.test.ts
@@ -25,12 +25,15 @@ let recordAllowlistMatchesUse: ExecApprovalsModule["recordAllowlistMatchesUse"];
 let recordAllowlistUse: ExecApprovalsModule["recordAllowlistUse"];
 let requestExecApprovalViaSocket: ExecApprovalsModule["requestExecApprovalViaSocket"];
 let resolveExecApprovals: ExecApprovalsModule["resolveExecApprovals"];
+let resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath: ExecApprovalsModule["resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath"];
 let resolveExecApprovalsPath: ExecApprovalsModule["resolveExecApprovalsPath"];
 let resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath: ExecApprovalsModule["resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath"];
+let resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath: ExecApprovalsModule["resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath"];
 let saveExecApprovals: ExecApprovalsModule["saveExecApprovals"];
 
 const tempDirs: string[] = [];
 const originalOpenClawHome = process.env.OPENCLAW_HOME;
+const originalOpenClawStateDir = process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR;
 
 beforeAll(async () => {
   ({
@@ -45,8 +48,10 @@ beforeAll(async () => {
     recordAllowlistUse,
     requestExecApprovalViaSocket,
     resolveExecApprovals,
+    resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath,
     resolveExecApprovalsPath,
     resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath,
+    resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath,
     saveExecApprovals,
   } = await import("./exec-approvals.js"));
 });
@@ -62,6 +67,11 @@ afterEach(() => {
   } else {
     process.env.OPENCLAW_HOME = originalOpenClawHome;
   }
+  if (originalOpenClawStateDir === undefined) {
+    delete process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR;
+  } else {
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = originalOpenClawStateDir;
+  }
   for (const dir of tempDirs.splice(0)) {
     fs.rmSync(dir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   }
@@ -71,6 +81,7 @@ function createHomeDir(): string {
   const dir = makeTempDir();
   tempDirs.push(dir);
   process.env.OPENCLAW_HOME = dir;
+  delete process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR;
   return dir;
 }
 
@@ -78,6 +89,10 @@ function approvalsFilePath(homeDir: string): string {
   return path.join(homeDir, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.json");
 }
 
+function stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir: string): string {
+  return path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.json");
+}
+
 function readApprovalsFile(homeDir: string): ExecApprovalsFile {
   return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(approvalsFilePath(homeDir), "utf8")) as ExecApprovalsFile;
 }
@@ -121,6 +136,84 @@ describe("exec approvals store helpers", () => {
     expect(path.normalize(resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath())).toBe(
       path.normalize(path.join(dir, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.sock")),
     );
+    expect(resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath()).toBe("~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json");
+  });
+
+  it("uses OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR for default file and socket paths", () => {
+    const dir = createHomeDir();
+    const stateDir = path.join(dir, "custom-state");
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = stateDir;
+
+    expect(path.normalize(resolveExecApprovalsPath())).toBe(
+      path.normalize(stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir)),
+    );
+    expect(path.normalize(resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath())).toBe(
+      path.normalize(path.join(stateDir, "exec-approvals.sock")),
+    );
+    expect(resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath()).toBe(stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir));
+    expect(resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath()).toBe("$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/exec-approvals.json");
+
+    const ensured = ensureExecApprovals();
+
+    expect(ensured.socket?.path).toBe(resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath());
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir))).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(approvalsFilePath(dir))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("fails closed without writing target approvals before state migration runs", () => {
+    const dir = createHomeDir();
+    const stateDir = path.join(dir, "custom-state");
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(approvalsFilePath(dir)), { recursive: true });
+    fs.writeFileSync(
+      approvalsFilePath(dir),
+      `${JSON.stringify({
+        version: 1,
+        socket: {
+          path: path.join(dir, ".openclaw", "exec-approvals.sock"),
+          token: "legacy-token",
+        },
+        defaults: {
+          security: "deny",
+          ask: "always",
+        },
+        agents: {},
+      })}\n`,
+      "utf8",
+    );
+    process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR = stateDir;
+
+    const resolved = resolveExecApprovals("main", {
+      security: "full",
+      ask: "off",
+    });
+
+    expect(resolved.agent.security).toBe("deny");
+    expect(resolved.agent.ask).toBe("always");
+    expect(resolved.token).toBe("");
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir))).toBe(false);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(approvalsFilePath(dir))).toBe(true);
+
+    const ensured = ensureExecApprovals();
+
+    expect(ensured.defaults).toEqual({
+      security: "deny",
+      ask: "always",
+      askFallback: "deny",
+      autoAllowSkills: undefined,
+    });
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateApprovalsFilePath(stateDir))).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps the default approvals path when only legacy state exists", () => {
+    const dir = createHomeDir();
+    fs.mkdirSync(path.join(dir, ".clawdbot"), { recursive: true });
+
+    expect(path.normalize(resolveExecApprovalsPath())).toBe(path.normalize(approvalsFilePath(dir)));
+
+    ensureExecApprovals();
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(approvalsFilePath(dir))).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(dir, ".clawdbot", "exec-approvals.json"))).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it("merges socket defaults from normalized, current, and built-in fallback", () => {
diff --git a/src/infra/exec-approvals.ts b/src/infra/exec-approvals.ts
index f0fbc972d7a6..d2aec50a87e0 100644
--- a/src/infra/exec-approvals.ts
+++ b/src/infra/exec-approvals.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { analyzeShellCommand, type ExecCommandSegment } from "./exec-approvals-a
 import type { ExecAllowlistEntry } from "./exec-approvals.types.js";
 import { isShellWrapperInvocation } from "./exec-wrapper-resolution.js";
 import { assertNoSymlinkParentsSync } from "./fs-safe-advanced.js";
-import { expandHomePrefix, resolveRequiredHomeDir } from "./home-dir.js";
+import { expandHomePrefix, resolveHomeRelativePath, resolveRequiredHomeDir } from "./home-dir.js";
 import { requestJsonlSocket } from "./jsonl-socket.js";
 export * from "./exec-approvals-analysis.js";
 export * from "./exec-approvals-allowlist.js";
@@ -284,8 +284,9 @@ const DEFAULT_SECURITY: ExecSecurity = "full";
 const DEFAULT_ASK: ExecAsk = "off";
 export const DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVAL_ASK_FALLBACK: ExecSecurity = "deny";
 const DEFAULT_AUTO_ALLOW_SKILLS = false;
-const DEFAULT_SOCKET = "~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.sock";
-const DEFAULT_FILE = "~/.openclaw/exec-approvals.json";
+const DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR = "~/.openclaw";
+const EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE = "exec-approvals.json";
+const EXEC_APPROVALS_SOCKET = "exec-approvals.sock";
 
 function hashExecApprovalsRaw(raw: string | null): string {
   return crypto
@@ -294,12 +295,71 @@ function hashExecApprovalsRaw(raw: string | null): string {
     .digest("hex");
 }
 
+function resolveExecApprovalsStateDir(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env): {
+  path: string;
+  displayPath: string;
+} {
+  const override = env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR?.trim();
+  if (override) {
+    const resolved = resolveHomeRelativePath(override, { env });
+    return {
+      path: resolved,
+      displayPath: resolved,
+    };
+  }
+  return {
+    path: expandHomePrefix(DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR, { env }),
+    displayPath: DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR,
+  };
+}
+
 export function resolveExecApprovalsPath(): string {
-  return expandHomePrefix(DEFAULT_FILE);
+  return path.join(resolveExecApprovalsStateDir().path, EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE);
 }
 
 export function resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath(): string {
-  return expandHomePrefix(DEFAULT_SOCKET);
+  return path.join(resolveExecApprovalsStateDir().path, EXEC_APPROVALS_SOCKET);
+}
+
+export function resolveExecApprovalsDisplayPath(): string {
+  const stateDir = resolveExecApprovalsStateDir().displayPath;
+  return stateDir === DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR
+    ? `${stateDir}/${EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE}`
+    : path.join(stateDir, EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE);
+}
+
+export function resolveExecApprovalsTranscriptPath(): string {
+  return process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR?.trim()
+    ? `$OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR/${EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE}`
+    : `${DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR}/${EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE}`;
+}
+
+function resolveLegacyExecApprovalsPath(): string {
+  return path.join(expandHomePrefix(DEFAULT_EXEC_APPROVALS_STATE_DIR), EXEC_APPROVALS_FILE);
+}
+
+function hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(filePath: string): boolean {
+  if (!process.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR?.trim()) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  const legacyPath = resolveLegacyExecApprovalsPath();
+  return (
+    path.resolve(legacyPath) !== path.resolve(filePath) &&
+    !fs.existsSync(filePath) &&
+    fs.existsSync(legacyPath)
+  );
+}
+
+function createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback(): ExecApprovalsFile {
+  return normalizeExecApprovals({
+    version: 1,
+    defaults: {
+      security: "deny",
+      ask: "always",
+      askFallback: "deny",
+    },
+    agents: {},
+  });
 }
 
 function normalizeAllowlistPattern(value: string | undefined): string | null {
@@ -728,6 +788,16 @@ function generateToken(): string {
 
 export function readExecApprovalsSnapshot(): ExecApprovalsSnapshot {
   const filePath = resolveExecApprovalsPath();
+  if (hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(filePath)) {
+    const file = createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback();
+    return {
+      path: filePath,
+      exists: false,
+      raw: null,
+      file,
+      hash: hashExecApprovalsRaw(null),
+    };
+  }
   if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
     const file = normalizeExecApprovals({ version: 1, agents: {} });
     return {
@@ -760,6 +830,9 @@ export function readExecApprovalsSnapshot(): ExecApprovalsSnapshot {
 
 export function loadExecApprovals(): ExecApprovalsFile {
   const filePath = resolveExecApprovalsPath();
+  if (hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(filePath)) {
+    return createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback();
+  }
   try {
     if (!fs.existsSync(filePath)) {
       return normalizeExecApprovals({ version: 1, agents: {} });
@@ -820,6 +893,9 @@ export function restoreExecApprovalsSnapshot(snapshot: ExecApprovalsSnapshot): v
 }
 
 export function ensureExecApprovals(): ExecApprovalsFile {
+  if (hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(resolveExecApprovalsPath())) {
+    return createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback();
+  }
   const loaded = loadExecApprovals();
   const next = normalizeExecApprovals(loaded);
   const socketPath = next.socket?.path?.trim();
@@ -836,6 +912,9 @@ export function ensureExecApprovals(): ExecApprovalsFile {
 }
 
 function readExecApprovalsForNoPersistence(filePath: string): ExecApprovalsFile {
+  if (hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(filePath)) {
+    return createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback();
+  }
   const dir = path.dirname(filePath);
   assertNoExecApprovalsSymlinkParents(dir, resolveRequiredHomeDir());
   assertSafeExecApprovalsDestination(filePath);
@@ -1000,6 +1079,16 @@ export function resolveExecApprovals(
   overrides?: ExecApprovalsDefaultOverrides,
 ): ExecApprovalsResolved {
   const filePath = resolveExecApprovalsPath();
+  if (hasUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovals(filePath)) {
+    return resolveExecApprovalsFromFile({
+      file: createUnmigratedLegacyExecApprovalsFallback(),
+      agentId,
+      overrides,
+      path: filePath,
+      socketPath: resolveExecApprovalsSocketPath(),
+      token: "",
+    });
+  }
   if (!overrides?.requireSocket) {
     const file = readExecApprovalsForNoPersistence(filePath);
     const resolved = resolveExecApprovalsFromFile({
diff --git a/src/infra/state-migrations.ts b/src/infra/state-migrations.ts
index b2afc776a0af..d0896c9c3208 100644
--- a/src/infra/state-migrations.ts
+++ b/src/infra/state-migrations.ts
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ import {
   repairOpenClawStateDatabaseSchema,
   runOpenClawStateWriteTransaction,
 } from "../state/openclaw-state-db.js";
-import { expandHomePrefix } from "./home-dir.js";
+import { assertNoSymlinkParentsSync } from "./fs-safe-advanced.js";
+import { expandHomePrefix, resolveRequiredHomeDir } from "./home-dir.js";
 import {
   executeSqliteQuerySync,
   executeSqliteQueryTakeFirstSync,
@@ -128,9 +129,16 @@ export type LegacyStateDetection = {
     sessionPath: string;
     hasLegacy: boolean;
   };
+  execApprovals: {
+    sourcePath: string;
+    targetPath: string;
+    hasLegacy: boolean;
+  };
   preview: string[];
 };
 
+type LegacyExecApprovalsMigrationDetection = LegacyStateDetection["execApprovals"];
+
 type MigrationLogger = {
   info: (message: string) => void;
   warn: (message: string) => void;
@@ -173,6 +181,8 @@ const LEGACY_DELIVERY_QUEUE_DIRS = [
   { label: "outbound delivery queue", queueName: "outbound", dirName: "delivery-queue" },
   { label: "session delivery queue", queueName: "session", dirName: "session-delivery-queue" },
 ] as const;
+const EXEC_APPROVALS_FILENAME = "exec-approvals.json";
+const EXEC_APPROVALS_SOCKET_FILENAME = "exec-approvals.sock";
 type LegacyDeliveryQueueFile = {
   sourcePath: string;
   status: "pending" | "failed";
@@ -232,6 +242,43 @@ function resolveLegacyFlowRunsSidecarPath(stateDir: string): string {
   return path.join(stateDir, "flows", "registry.sqlite");
 }
 
+function resolveDefaultExecApprovalsStateDir(
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv,
+  homedir: () => string,
+): string {
+  return path.join(resolveRequiredHomeDir(env, homedir), ".openclaw");
+}
+
+function resolveDefaultExecApprovalsPath(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv, homedir: () => string): string {
+  return path.join(resolveDefaultExecApprovalsStateDir(env, homedir), EXEC_APPROVALS_FILENAME);
+}
+
+function resolveExecApprovalsPathForStateDir(stateDir: string): string {
+  return path.join(stateDir, EXEC_APPROVALS_FILENAME);
+}
+
+function resolveExecApprovalsSocketPathForStateDir(stateDir: string): string {
+  return path.join(stateDir, EXEC_APPROVALS_SOCKET_FILENAME);
+}
+
+function detectLegacyExecApprovalsMigration(params: {
+  env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+  homedir: () => string;
+  stateDir: string;
+}): LegacyExecApprovalsMigrationDetection {
+  const sourcePath = resolveDefaultExecApprovalsPath(params.env, params.homedir);
+  const targetPath = resolveExecApprovalsPathForStateDir(params.stateDir);
+  return {
+    sourcePath,
+    targetPath,
+    hasLegacy:
+      Boolean(params.env.OPENCLAW_STATE_DIR?.trim()) &&
+      path.resolve(sourcePath) !== path.resolve(targetPath) &&
+      fileExists(sourcePath) &&
+      !fileExists(targetPath),
+  };
+}
+
 function readLegacyPluginStateSidecarRows(sourcePath: string): LegacyPluginStateSidecarRow[] {
   const sqlite = requireNodeSqlite();
   const db = new sqlite.DatabaseSync(sourcePath, { readOnly: true });
@@ -2583,22 +2630,29 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyTaskStateSidecars(params: {
 
   const stateDir = resolveStateDir(params.env ?? process.env, params.homedir);
   const result = await migrateLegacyTaskStateSidecars({ stateDir });
+  const execApprovals = migrateLegacyExecApprovals(
+    detectLegacyExecApprovalsMigration({
+      env: params.env ?? process.env,
+      homedir: params.homedir ?? os.homedir,
+      stateDir,
+    }),
+  );
+  const changes = [...result.changes, ...execApprovals.changes];
+  const warnings = [...result.warnings, ...execApprovals.warnings];
   const logger = params.log ?? createSubsystemLogger("state-migrations");
-  if (result.changes.length > 0) {
-    logger.info(
-      `Auto-migrated legacy task state:\n${result.changes.map((entry) => `- ${entry}`).join("\n")}`,
-    );
+  if (changes.length > 0) {
+    logger.info(`Auto-migrated legacy state:\n${changes.map((entry) => `- ${entry}`).join("\n")}`);
   }
-  if (result.warnings.length > 0) {
+  if (warnings.length > 0) {
     logger.warn(
-      `Legacy task state migration warnings:\n${result.warnings.map((entry) => `- ${entry}`).join("\n")}`,
+      `Legacy state migration warnings:\n${warnings.map((entry) => `- ${entry}`).join("\n")}`,
     );
   }
   return {
-    migrated: result.changes.length > 0,
+    migrated: changes.length > 0,
     skipped: false,
-    changes: result.changes,
-    warnings: result.warnings,
+    changes,
+    warnings,
   };
 }
 
@@ -2684,6 +2738,7 @@ export async function detectLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
   const homedir = params.homedir ?? os.homedir;
   const stateDir = resolveStateDir(env, homedir);
   const oauthDir = resolveOAuthDir(env, stateDir);
+  const execApprovals = detectLegacyExecApprovalsMigration({ env, homedir, stateDir });
 
   const targetAgentId = normalizeAgentId(resolveDefaultAgentId(params.cfg));
   const rawMainKey = params.cfg.session?.mainKey;
@@ -2797,6 +2852,9 @@ export async function detectLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
   if (hasDeliveryQueues) {
     preview.push("- Delivery queues: legacy JSON queue files → shared SQLite state");
   }
+  if (execApprovals.hasLegacy) {
+    preview.push(`- Exec approvals: ${execApprovals.sourcePath} → ${execApprovals.targetPath}`);
+  }
   if (channelPlans.length > 0) {
     preview.push(...channelPlans.map(buildLegacyMigrationPreview));
   }
@@ -2852,6 +2910,7 @@ export async function detectLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
       ...deliveryQueuePaths,
       hasLegacy: hasDeliveryQueues,
     },
+    execApprovals,
     preview,
   };
 }
@@ -3146,6 +3205,192 @@ async function runPluginDoctorStateMigrationPlans(params: {
   return { changes, warnings };
 }
 
+function isPlainJsonObject(value: unknown): value is Record<string, unknown> {
+  return Boolean(value && typeof value === "object" && !Array.isArray(value));
+}
+
+function isDefaultLegacyExecApprovalsSocketPath(params: {
+  socketPath: string;
+  sourcePath: string;
+}): boolean {
+  const expanded = expandHomePrefix(params.socketPath);
+  return (
+    path.resolve(expanded) ===
+    path.join(path.dirname(params.sourcePath), EXEC_APPROVALS_SOCKET_FILENAME)
+  );
+}
+
+function prepareMigratedExecApprovalsFile(params: {
+  raw: string;
+  sourcePath: string;
+  targetPath: string;
+}): { raw: string; warning?: string } {
+  let parsed: unknown;
+  try {
+    parsed = JSON.parse(params.raw) as unknown;
+  } catch {
+    return {
+      raw: "",
+      warning: `Legacy exec approvals file unreadable; left in place at ${params.sourcePath}`,
+    };
+  }
+  if (!isPlainJsonObject(parsed) || parsed.version !== 1) {
+    return {
+      raw: "",
+      warning: `Legacy exec approvals file has unsupported shape; left in place at ${params.sourcePath}`,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const next: Record<string, unknown> = { ...parsed };
+  const socket = isPlainJsonObject(next.socket) ? { ...next.socket } : {};
+  const rawSocketPath = typeof socket.path === "string" ? socket.path.trim() : "";
+  if (
+    !rawSocketPath ||
+    isDefaultLegacyExecApprovalsSocketPath({
+      socketPath: rawSocketPath,
+      sourcePath: params.sourcePath,
+    })
+  ) {
+    socket.path = resolveExecApprovalsSocketPathForStateDir(path.dirname(params.targetPath));
+  }
+  next.socket = socket;
+  return { raw: `${JSON.stringify(next, null, 2)}\n` };
+}
+
+function assertSafeExecApprovalsMigrationTarget(targetPath: string): void {
+  const targetDir = path.dirname(targetPath);
+  assertNoSymlinkParentsSync({
+    rootDir: resolveRequiredHomeDir(),
+    targetPath: targetDir,
+    allowOutsideRoot: true,
+    messagePrefix: "Refusing to traverse symlink in exec approvals migration path",
+  });
+  try {
+    const targetStat = fs.lstatSync(targetPath);
+    if (targetStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+      throw new Error(`Refusing to migrate exec approvals via symlink: ${targetPath}`);
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== "ENOENT") {
+      throw err;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+function writeMigratedExecApprovalsFile(targetPath: string, raw: string): boolean {
+  const targetDir = path.dirname(targetPath);
+  assertSafeExecApprovalsMigrationTarget(targetPath);
+  fs.mkdirSync(targetDir, { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
+  assertSafeExecApprovalsMigrationTarget(targetPath);
+  const dirStat = fs.lstatSync(targetDir);
+  if (!dirStat.isDirectory() || dirStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+    throw new Error(`Refusing to migrate exec approvals into unsafe directory: ${targetDir}`);
+  }
+  try {
+    fs.chmodSync(targetDir, 0o700);
+  } catch {
+    // best-effort on platforms without chmod
+  }
+  const tempPath = path.join(targetDir, `.exec-approvals.migration.${process.pid}.tmp`);
+  fs.writeFileSync(tempPath, raw, { encoding: "utf8", mode: 0o600, flag: "wx" });
+  try {
+    try {
+      fs.copyFileSync(tempPath, targetPath, fs.constants.COPYFILE_EXCL);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code === "EEXIST") {
+        return false;
+      }
+      try {
+        fs.rmSync(targetPath, { force: true });
+      } catch {
+        // best-effort cleanup for an incomplete exclusive copy target
+      }
+      throw err;
+    }
+    try {
+      fs.chmodSync(targetPath, 0o600);
+    } catch {
+      // best-effort on platforms without chmod
+    }
+    return true;
+  } finally {
+    fs.rmSync(tempPath, { force: true });
+  }
+}
+
+function archiveMigratedExecApprovalsSource(sourcePath: string): string {
+  let archivePath = `${sourcePath}.migrated`;
+  if (fileExists(archivePath)) {
+    archivePath = `${archivePath}-${Date.now()}`;
+  }
+  fs.renameSync(sourcePath, archivePath);
+  return archivePath;
+}
+
+function migrateLegacyExecApprovals(detected: LegacyExecApprovalsMigrationDetection): {
+  changes: string[];
+  warnings: string[];
+} {
+  const changes: string[] = [];
+  const warnings: string[] = [];
+  if (!detected.hasLegacy) {
+    return { changes, warnings };
+  }
+  if (fileExists(detected.targetPath)) {
+    return { changes, warnings };
+  }
+  try {
+    const sourceStat = fs.lstatSync(detected.sourcePath);
+    if (!sourceStat.isFile() || sourceStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+      warnings.push(
+        `Legacy exec approvals file is not a regular file; left in place at ${detected.sourcePath}`,
+      );
+      return { changes, warnings };
+    }
+    try {
+      const targetStat = fs.lstatSync(detected.targetPath);
+      if (targetStat.isSymbolicLink()) {
+        warnings.push(
+          `Target exec approvals path is a symlink; skipped migration at ${detected.targetPath}`,
+        );
+        return { changes, warnings };
+      }
+    } catch (err) {
+      if ((err as NodeJS.ErrnoException).code !== "ENOENT") {
+        throw err;
+      }
+    }
+    const prepared = prepareMigratedExecApprovalsFile({
+      raw: fs.readFileSync(detected.sourcePath, "utf8"),
+      sourcePath: detected.sourcePath,
+      targetPath: detected.targetPath,
+    });
+    if (prepared.warning) {
+      warnings.push(prepared.warning);
+      return { changes, warnings };
+    }
+    if (!writeMigratedExecApprovalsFile(detected.targetPath, prepared.raw)) {
+      return { changes, warnings };
+    }
+    changes.push(`Migrated exec approvals → ${detected.targetPath}`);
+    try {
+      const archivePath = archiveMigratedExecApprovalsSource(detected.sourcePath);
+      changes.push(`Archived legacy exec approvals → ${archivePath}`);
+    } catch (err) {
+      warnings.push(
+        `Failed archiving legacy exec approvals at ${detected.sourcePath}: ${String(err)}`,
+      );
+    }
+  } catch (err) {
+    warnings.push(
+      `Failed migrating exec approvals (${detected.sourcePath} → ${detected.targetPath}): ${String(
+        err,
+      )}`,
+    );
+  }
+  return { changes, warnings };
+}
+
 function migrateLegacyStateSchema(detected: LegacyStateDetection): {
   changes: string[];
   warnings: string[];
@@ -3179,6 +3424,7 @@ export async function runLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
   const deliveryQueues = await migrateLegacyDeliveryQueues({
     stateDir: detected.stateDir,
   });
+  const execApprovals = migrateLegacyExecApprovals(detected.execApprovals);
   const preSessionChannelPlans = await runLegacyMigrationPlans(
     detected.channelPlans.plans.filter((plan) => plan.kind === "plugin-state-import"),
   );
@@ -3207,6 +3453,7 @@ export async function runLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
       ...pluginInstallIndex.changes,
       ...taskStateSidecars.changes,
       ...deliveryQueues.changes,
+      ...execApprovals.changes,
       ...preSessionChannelPlans.changes,
       ...pluginPlans.changes,
       ...sessions.changes,
@@ -3220,6 +3467,7 @@ export async function runLegacyStateMigrations(params: {
       ...pluginInstallIndex.warnings,
       ...taskStateSidecars.warnings,
       ...deliveryQueues.warnings,
+      ...execApprovals.warnings,
       ...preSessionChannelPlans.warnings,
       ...pluginPlans.warnings,
       ...sessions.warnings,
@@ -3551,6 +3799,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
     const deliveryQueues = await migrateLegacyDeliveryQueues({
       stateDir: detected.stateDir,
     });
+    const execApprovals = migrateLegacyExecApprovals(detected.execApprovals);
     const preSessionChannelPlans = await runLegacyMigrationPlans(
       detected.channelPlans.plans.filter((plan) => plan.kind === "plugin-state-import"),
     );
@@ -3567,6 +3816,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
       ...pluginInstallIndex.changes,
       ...taskStateSidecars.changes,
       ...deliveryQueues.changes,
+      ...execApprovals.changes,
       ...preSessionChannelPlans.changes,
       ...pluginPlans.changes,
     ];
@@ -3579,6 +3829,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
       ...pluginInstallIndex.warnings,
       ...taskStateSidecars.warnings,
       ...deliveryQueues.warnings,
+      ...execApprovals.warnings,
       ...preSessionChannelPlans.warnings,
       ...pluginPlans.warnings,
     ];
@@ -3593,6 +3844,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
         pluginInstallIndex.changes.length > 0 ||
         taskStateSidecars.changes.length > 0 ||
         deliveryQueues.changes.length > 0 ||
+        execApprovals.changes.length > 0 ||
         preSessionChannelPlans.changes.length > 0 ||
         pluginPlans.changes.length > 0,
       skipped: true,
@@ -3609,7 +3861,8 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
     !detected.pluginInstallIndex.hasLegacy &&
     !detected.stateSchema.hasLegacy &&
     !detected.taskStateSidecars.hasLegacy &&
-    !detected.deliveryQueues.hasLegacy
+    !detected.deliveryQueues.hasLegacy &&
+    !detected.execApprovals.hasLegacy
   ) {
     const changes = [
       ...stateDirResult.changes,
@@ -3649,6 +3902,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
   const deliveryQueues = await migrateLegacyDeliveryQueues({
     stateDir: detected.stateDir,
   });
+  const execApprovals = migrateLegacyExecApprovals(detected.execApprovals);
   const preSessionChannelPlans = await runLegacyMigrationPlans(
     detected.channelPlans.plans.filter((plan) => plan.kind === "plugin-state-import"),
   );
@@ -3677,6 +3931,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
     ...pluginInstallIndex.changes,
     ...taskStateSidecars.changes,
     ...deliveryQueues.changes,
+    ...execApprovals.changes,
     ...preSessionChannelPlans.changes,
     ...pluginPlans.changes,
     ...sessions.changes,
@@ -3693,6 +3948,7 @@ export async function autoMigrateLegacyState(params: {
     ...pluginInstallIndex.warnings,
     ...taskStateSidecars.warnings,
     ...deliveryQueues.warnings,
+    ...execApprovals.warnings,
     ...preSessionChannelPlans.warnings,
     ...pluginPlans.warnings,
     ...sessions.warnings,