diff --git a/crates/maestro-cli/src/sessions.rs b/crates/maestro-cli/src/sessions.rs
index f98d9eb..31ecff1 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-cli/src/sessions.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-cli/src/sessions.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ pub async fn run_spawn(client: &DaemonClient, args: SpawnArgs) -> Result<Session
         env,
         metadata,
         worktree,
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
     client.create_session(&body).await
 }
diff --git a/crates/maestro-cli/tests/against_mock_daemon.rs b/crates/maestro-cli/tests/against_mock_daemon.rs
index 1c1c397..016eceb 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-cli/tests/against_mock_daemon.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-cli/tests/against_mock_daemon.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ async fn info_carries_version_and_presets() {
             id: "claude".into(),
             label: "Claude".into(),
             command: "claude".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         }],
         ..Default::default()
     });
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ async fn spawn_round_trips_through_the_daemon() {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata: Default::default(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
diff --git a/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs b/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
index c4efec0..a9c6f13 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-config/src/lib.rs
@@ -313,16 +313,19 @@ pub fn builtin_presets() -> Vec<SpawnPreset> {
             id: "claude".into(),
             label: "Claude".into(),
             command: "claude".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         },
         SpawnPreset {
             id: "opencode".into(),
             label: "opencode".into(),
             command: "opencode".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         },
         SpawnPreset {
             id: "zsh".into(),
             label: "Shell".into(),
             command: "zsh".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         },
     ]
 }
@@ -334,6 +337,7 @@ pub fn custom_preset() -> SpawnPreset {
         id: CUSTOM_PRESET_ID.into(),
         label: "Custom…".into(),
         command: String::new(),
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -515,6 +519,7 @@ auto_install = false
                 id: "fish".into(),
                 label: "fish".into(),
                 command: "fish".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             }]),
             ..Default::default()
         };
@@ -551,6 +556,7 @@ auto_install = false
                 id: "  ".into(),
                 label: "x".into(),
                 command: "x".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             }]),
             ..Default::default()
         };
@@ -561,6 +567,7 @@ auto_install = false
                 id: "x".into(),
                 label: "x".into(),
                 command: "".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             }]),
             ..Default::default()
         };
@@ -578,11 +585,13 @@ auto_install = false
                     id: "a".into(),
                     label: "a".into(),
                     command: "a".into(),
+                    auto_approve: false,
                 },
                 SpawnPreset {
                     id: "a".into(),
                     label: "a2".into(),
                     command: "a2".into(),
+                    auto_approve: false,
                 },
             ]),
             ..Default::default()
@@ -597,6 +606,7 @@ auto_install = false
                 id: "custom".into(),
                 label: "Custom".into(),
                 command: "whatever".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             }]),
             ..Default::default()
         };
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
index d377af3..fb5b716 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/src/session.rs
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ pub struct SessionRecord {
     /// Completion signal for the task draining ACP notifications into the
     /// event log. Shutdown waits for it before returning.
     acp_event_pump: Option<watch::Receiver<bool>>,
+    /// When `true`, the permission pump auto-responds `AllowAlways` to every
+    /// ACP permission request without surfacing it to clients.
+    pub auto_approve: bool,
 }
 
 impl SessionRecord {
@@ -1414,7 +1417,7 @@ impl SessionManager {
             let mut sessions = self.inner.sessions.lock().await;
             let event_pump = event_pump.map(|(acp, events)| {
                 let done = start_acp_event_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events.clone());
-                start_acp_permission_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events);
+                start_acp_permission_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events, req.auto_approve);
                 done
             });
             sessions.insert(
@@ -1435,6 +1438,7 @@ impl SessionManager {
                     acp_events,
                     structured_activity_watermark: None,
                     acp_event_pump: event_pump,
+                    auto_approve: req.auto_approve,
                 },
             );
         }
@@ -1647,6 +1651,7 @@ impl SessionManager {
                     acp_events: None,
                     structured_activity_watermark: None,
                     acp_event_pump: None,
+                    auto_approve: false,
                 },
             );
             let _ = self
@@ -1824,11 +1829,14 @@ impl SessionManager {
                     acp_events,
                     structured_activity_watermark: None,
                     acp_event_pump: None,
+                    // Recovery cannot know the original preset's flag; the
+                    // operator re-enables it by restarting with the preset.
+                    auto_approve: false,
                 },
             );
             if let Some((acp, events)) = event_pump {
                 let done = start_acp_event_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events.clone());
-                start_acp_permission_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events);
+                start_acp_permission_pump(&self.inner, id, &acp, events, false);
                 if let Some(record) = self.inner.sessions.lock().await.get_mut(&id) {
                     record.acp_event_pump = Some(done);
                 }
@@ -2327,6 +2335,7 @@ fn start_acp_permission_pump(
     id: Uuid,
     acp: &Arc<AcpSession>,
     events: Arc<Mutex<AcpEventStream>>,
+    auto_approve: bool,
 ) {
     let Some(mut requests) = acp.take_permission_requests() else {
         return;
@@ -2340,6 +2349,12 @@ fn start_acp_permission_pump(
             response,
         }) = requests.recv().await
         {
+            if auto_approve {
+                let outcome =
+                    permission_outcome(ApprovalDecision::AllowForSession, &request.options);
+                let _ = response.send(outcome);
+                continue;
+            }
             let mut events = events.lock().await;
             if events.projection.active_turn() != Some(turn) {
                 let _ = response.send(maestro_acp::schema::RequestPermissionOutcome::Cancelled);
@@ -3060,6 +3075,7 @@ mod tests {
             env: std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             metadata: std::collections::HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/acp.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/acp.rs
index 552a6a1..ab4fcec 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/acp.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/acp.rs
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ fn structured_command(
         env,
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: None,
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -705,6 +706,7 @@ async fn shutdown_preserves_a_pristine_structured_worktree_for_recovery() {
                 branch: branch.into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1187,6 +1189,7 @@ async fn cancelling_a_structured_handshake_rolls_back_and_settles_admission() {
             branch: "cancelled-create".into(),
             create_branch: true,
         }),
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
 
     let create = {
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/activity_report.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/activity_report.rs
index dda80fa..1c99d6e 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/activity_report.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/activity_report.rs
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ async fn spawn_sleeping(manager: &SessionManager) -> Uuid {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata: Default::default(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap()
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/attach.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/attach.rs
index 1648613..000abfc 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/attach.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/attach.rs
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ async fn create_bash_session(h: &Harness) -> Uuid {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/autoname.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/autoname.rs
index 491ff5b..d49c89d 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/autoname.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/autoname.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ async fn spawn(manager: &SessionManager, name: Option<&str>) -> Uuid {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata,
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap()
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/blocked_work_cost.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/blocked_work_cost.rs
index 35ce151..05bee0a 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/blocked_work_cost.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/blocked_work_cost.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ fn request(cwd: &std::path::Path, repo: &std::path::Path, branch: &str) -> Creat
             branch: branch.into(),
             create_branch: true,
         }),
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/local_api.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/local_api.rs
index d2aa08f..aaad617 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/local_api.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/local_api.rs
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ async fn structured_session_with_env(h: &Harness, env: HashMap<String, String>)
             env,
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap()
@@ -493,6 +494,7 @@ async fn structured_prompt_rejects_unknown_and_unavailable_sessions() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -626,6 +628,7 @@ async fn structured_replay_rejects_unknown_terminal_and_dead_sessions() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -768,6 +771,7 @@ async fn list_sessions_starts_empty_and_reflects_creates() {
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: None,
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
     let created: Session = reqwest::Client::new()
         .post(url(h.addr, "/api/sessions"))
@@ -985,6 +989,7 @@ async fn patch_session_renames_it() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1028,6 +1033,7 @@ async fn post_focus_stamps_last_focused_at() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1062,6 +1068,7 @@ async fn delete_owned_session_kills_it() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1084,6 +1091,7 @@ async fn spawn_via_manager(h: &Harness) -> Uuid {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap()
@@ -1198,6 +1206,7 @@ async fn delete_a_session_whose_worktree_holds_unsaved_work_returns_409_with_the
                 branch: "feat/guarded".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1251,6 +1260,7 @@ async fn delete_with_force_ends_the_session_and_keeps_the_worktree() {
                 branch: "feat/guarded".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1281,6 +1291,7 @@ async fn attach_ws_streams_pty_bytes() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -1383,6 +1394,7 @@ async fn events_ws_sends_a_snapshot_then_streams_deltas() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1495,6 +1507,7 @@ async fn every_events_subscriber_gets_its_own_snapshot() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/rename.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/rename.rs
index 6a6cae1..8f6e129 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/rename.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/rename.rs
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ async fn spawn_named(manager: &SessionManager, name: Option<&str>) -> Uuid {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata,
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap()
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_decisions.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_decisions.rs
index d7e2d20..8d699fe 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_decisions.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_decisions.rs
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ impl Fx {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
index 51cf0fc..28a81b0 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ async fn create_then_kill_round_trip() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ async fn create_appends_to_spawn_history() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::from([("name".into(), serde_json::json!("neon-drifter"))]),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -100,6 +102,7 @@ async fn create_without_history_logs_nothing() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -123,6 +126,7 @@ async fn recover_adopts_existing_tmux_sessions() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -166,6 +170,7 @@ async fn create_captures_initial_output_in_replay_buffer() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -215,6 +220,7 @@ async fn attach_replay_is_the_current_screen_not_the_byte_tail() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -273,6 +279,7 @@ async fn attach_replay_carries_the_panes_mouse_modes() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -324,6 +331,7 @@ async fn recover_re_pipes_pane_so_output_reaches_subscribers() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -387,6 +395,7 @@ async fn pty_broadcast_delivers_bytes_to_subscribers() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .unwrap();
@@ -438,6 +447,7 @@ async fn liveness_watcher_marks_dead_sessions_and_keeps_them_until_dismissed() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -508,6 +518,7 @@ async fn watcher_refreshes_the_blocked_work_indicator() {
                 branch: "feat/indicator".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -601,6 +612,7 @@ async fn kill_removes_worktree_even_when_spec_says_keep() {
                 branch: "feat/keep".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -639,6 +651,7 @@ async fn killing_refuses_a_worktree_with_unsaved_work_and_keeps_the_session() {
                 branch: "feat/guarded".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -703,6 +716,7 @@ async fn killing_refuses_until_the_branch_is_pushed() {
                 branch: "feat/pushed".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -753,6 +767,7 @@ async fn force_killing_a_guarded_worktree_leaves_it_on_disk() {
                 branch: "feat/forced".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -799,6 +814,7 @@ async fn force_on_a_clear_worktree_removes_it_as_usual() {
                 branch: "feat/clear".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -840,6 +856,7 @@ async fn killing_an_ignored_only_worktree_succeeds() {
                 branch: "feat/rusty".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -882,6 +899,7 @@ async fn natural_exit_of_a_guarded_worktree_leaves_it_on_disk() {
                 branch: "feat/exited".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -944,6 +962,7 @@ async fn natural_exit_of_a_pristine_worktree_removes_it() {
                 branch: "feat/clean".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1001,6 +1020,7 @@ async fn liveness_watcher_leaves_running_sessions_alone() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1040,6 +1060,7 @@ async fn worktree_base_repo_records_the_main_checkout_not_the_request() {
                 branch: "feat/one".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create first");
@@ -1058,6 +1079,7 @@ async fn worktree_base_repo_records_the_main_checkout_not_the_request() {
                 branch: "feat/two".into(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create second");
@@ -1093,6 +1115,7 @@ async fn spawned_sessions_export_maestro_session_id_and_url() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1132,6 +1155,7 @@ async fn a_freshly_created_session_has_never_been_focused() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1158,6 +1182,7 @@ async fn set_focused_true_stamps_last_focused_at() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
@@ -1207,6 +1232,7 @@ async fn attaching_stamps_last_focused_at() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("create");
diff --git a/crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs b/crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs
index d1406f5..755eeba 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-e2e/tests/e2e.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ fn create_req(cwd: &std::path::Path, command: &str) -> CreateSessionRequest {
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: None,
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ fn worktree_req(base: &std::path::Path, branch: &str, create_branch: bool) -> Cr
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: Some(worktree_spec(base, branch, create_branch)),
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -206,6 +208,7 @@ async fn kill_removes_clean_worktree() {
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: Some(worktree_spec(base.path(), "feature/e2e", true)),
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
 
     let s = client.spawn_session(&req).await.expect("spawn worktree");
@@ -260,6 +263,7 @@ async fn kill_refuses_worktree_with_uncommitted_changes() {
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: Some(worktree_spec(base.path(), "feature/unsaved", true)),
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
 
     let s = client.spawn_session(&req).await.expect("spawn worktree");
@@ -319,6 +323,7 @@ async fn spawn_on_existing_branch_checks_it_out() {
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: Some(worktree_spec(base.path(), "feature/existing", false)),
+        auto_approve: false,
     };
 
     let s = client
@@ -827,6 +832,7 @@ async fn natural_exit_settles_dirty_and_pristine_worktrees_differently() {
             env: HashMap::new(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: Some(worktree_spec(dirty_repo.path(), "feature/messy", true)),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("spawn dirty");
@@ -876,6 +882,7 @@ fn create_req_cmd(cwd: &std::path::Path, command: &str, branch: &str) -> CreateS
         env: HashMap::new(),
         metadata: HashMap::new(),
         worktree: Some(worktree_spec(cwd, branch, true)),
+        auto_approve: false,
     }
 }
 
@@ -1068,6 +1075,7 @@ async fn sigterm_stops_structured_child_before_events_ws_drains() {
             env: fake.env.clone(),
             metadata: HashMap::new(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
         .await
         .expect("spawn structured session");
diff --git a/crates/maestro-protocol/src/lib.rs b/crates/maestro-protocol/src/lib.rs
index 03cd125..e64dda5 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-protocol/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-protocol/src/lib.rs
@@ -383,6 +383,10 @@ pub struct CreateSessionRequest {
     /// untouched.
     #[serde(default)]
     pub view: SessionView,
+    /// When `true`, the daemon auto-approves every ACP permission request
+    /// for this structured session.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub auto_approve: bool,
 }
 
 /// Result of `GET /api/dirs`: the immediate subdirectories of one directory.
@@ -522,6 +526,11 @@ pub struct SpawnPreset {
     pub id: String,
     pub label: String,
     pub command: String,
+    /// When `true`, the daemon auto-approves every ACP permission request
+    /// for structured sessions spawned from this preset instead of surfacing
+    /// them to the client.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub auto_approve: bool,
 }
 
 /// Build provenance of the running daemon: the commit it was compiled
@@ -1251,6 +1260,7 @@ mod tests {
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
             view: SessionView::Terminal,
+            auto_approve: false,
         };
         assert_eq!(req, round_trip(&req));
     }
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs
index 09ac938..4825a65 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/app.rs
@@ -3009,6 +3009,7 @@ mod tests {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata: Default::default(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         };
         app.submit_spawn(req).await;
 
@@ -3057,6 +3058,7 @@ mod tests {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata: Default::default(),
             worktree: None,
+            auto_approve: false,
         };
 
         let structured_id = Uuid::from_u128(188);
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/draft.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/draft.rs
index b78b275..7ace0ff 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/draft.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/draft.rs
@@ -718,6 +718,10 @@ impl DraftPane {
             );
         }
         let worktree = self.build_worktree()?;
+        let auto_approve = self
+            .presets
+            .get(self.selected_preset)
+            .is_some_and(|p| p.auto_approve);
         Ok(CreateSessionRequest {
             view: if self.structured_view && self.supports_structured_view() {
                 SessionView::Structured
@@ -729,6 +733,7 @@ impl DraftPane {
             env: Default::default(),
             metadata,
             worktree,
+            auto_approve,
         })
     }
 
@@ -1776,6 +1781,7 @@ mod tests {
             id: "aider".into(),
             label: "Aider".into(),
             command: "aider".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         }]);
         assert_eq!(
             draft.command(),
@@ -1798,11 +1804,13 @@ mod tests {
                 id: "claude".into(),
                 label: "Claude".into(),
                 command: "claude".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
             SpawnPreset {
                 id: "aider".into(),
                 label: "Aider".into(),
                 command: "aider".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
         ]);
         assert_eq!(draft.command(), "aider");
@@ -1822,6 +1830,7 @@ mod tests {
             id: "claude".into(),
             label: "Claude".into(),
             command: "claude".into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         }]);
         assert!(draft.is_custom());
         assert_eq!(draft.command(), "bash -l");
@@ -1898,16 +1907,19 @@ mod tests {
                 id: "claude".into(),
                 label: "Claude".into(),
                 command: "claude".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
             SpawnPreset {
                 id: "codex".into(),
                 label: "Codex".into(),
                 command: "codex".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
             SpawnPreset {
                 id: "opencode".into(),
                 label: "OpenCode".into(),
                 command: "opencode".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
         ]);
         assert!(!draft.structured_view);
@@ -2046,16 +2058,19 @@ mod tests {
                 id: "claude-wrapped".into(),
                 label: "Claude (npx)".into(),
                 command: "npx claude-code --resume".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
             SpawnPreset {
                 id: "codex-wrapped".into(),
                 label: "Codex (npx)".into(),
                 command: "npx codex exec".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
             SpawnPreset {
                 id: "aider".into(),
                 label: "Aider".into(),
                 command: "aider".into(),
+                auto_approve: false,
             },
         ]);
 
diff --git a/crates/maestro-tui/src/fast_forward.rs b/crates/maestro-tui/src/fast_forward.rs
index cd87800..21e5916 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-tui/src/fast_forward.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-tui/src/fast_forward.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ impl FastForwardDefaults {
                 branch: handle.to_string(),
                 create_branch: true,
             }),
+            auto_approve: false,
         })
     }
 
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ mod tests {
             id: id.into(),
             label: id.into(),
             command: command.into(),
+            auto_approve: false,
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/web/src/spawnForm.test.ts b/web/src/spawnForm.test.ts
index 412a4c0..cd4974e 100644
--- a/web/src/spawnForm.test.ts
+++ b/web/src/spawnForm.test.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const base: SpawnFormValues = {
   cwd: "/home/user/project",
   name: "amber-fox",
   structuredView: false,
+  autoApprove: false,
   worktreeEnabled: false,
   worktreeBranch: "",
   worktreeBranchMode: "new",
diff --git a/web/src/spawnForm.ts b/web/src/spawnForm.ts
index 24dd35f..2db0698 100644
--- a/web/src/spawnForm.ts
+++ b/web/src/spawnForm.ts
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ export interface SpawnFormValues {
   cwd: string;
   name: string;
   structuredView: boolean;
+  autoApprove: boolean;
   worktreeEnabled: boolean;
   worktreeBranch: string;
   worktreeBranchEdited: boolean;
@@ -79,6 +80,10 @@ export function buildSpawnRequest(
     req.view = "Structured";
   }
 
+  if (values.autoApprove) {
+    req.auto_approve = true;
+  }
+
   if (values.worktreeEnabled) {
     const mode = values.worktreeBranchMode ?? "new";
     const branch = values.worktreeBranch.trim();
@@ -261,6 +266,8 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
   let ready = false;
   let destroyed = false;
   const branchValue = () => (branchMode === "existing" ? branchSelect.value : branchInput.value);
+  const selectedAutoApprove = () =>
+    presets.find((p) => p.id === selectedPresetId)?.auto_approve ?? false;
   const emit = () => {
     if (!ready || destroyed) return;
     opts.onChange?.({
@@ -268,6 +275,7 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
       cwd,
       name: nameInput.value,
       structuredView: structuredView.checked,
+      autoApprove: selectedAutoApprove(),
       worktreeEnabled: wtEnabled.checked,
       worktreeBranch: branchValue(),
       worktreeBranchEdited: branchEdited,
@@ -917,6 +925,7 @@ export function createSpawnForm(opts: SpawnFormOptions): SpawnFormHandle {
         cwd,
         name: nameInput.value,
         structuredView: structuredView.checked,
+        autoApprove: selectedAutoApprove(),
         worktreeEnabled: wtEnabled.checked,
         worktreeBranch: branchValue(),
         worktreeBranchEdited: branchEdited,
diff --git a/web/src/types.ts b/web/src/types.ts
index 2a10938..eb944ba 100644
--- a/web/src/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/types.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ export interface SpawnPreset {
   id: string;
   label: string;
   command: string;
+  auto_approve?: boolean;
 }
 
 /** `GET /api/info` — the daemon's identity plus its spawn presets (#26).
@@ -277,6 +278,7 @@ export interface CreateSessionRequest {
   metadata?: Record<string, unknown>;
   worktree?: WorktreeSpec;
   view?: SessionView;
+  auto_approve?: boolean;
 }
 
 export type CatalogEvent =