diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4YQG7BVWEFZPD56A2BA0VE9-mode-ace-mode-channels-id-an.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4YQG7BVWEFZPD56A2BA0VE9-mode-ace-mode-channels-id-an.md
index 7b9e7df3..bf4db375 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4YQG7BVWEFZPD56A2BA0VE9-mode-ace-mode-channels-id-an.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4YQG7BVWEFZPD56A2BA0VE9-mode-ace-mode-channels-id-an.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function Composer
 created: 2026-10-15T02:50:44Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 6e0e6c5c8afbd01a
-body_hash: 50b1bf8d25d5e6da
-raw_hash: fcc5ab24dfd60256
-vouched: 2026-10-22T17:49:27Z
+body_hash: 7a4597684360db67
+raw_hash: 52e4e5fdab485c4d
+vouched: 2026-10-22T17:52:41Z
 lines: 99-282
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZSEZBJJ3AMEBTR7SH36FW4-models-are-read-only-while-t.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZSEZBJJ3AMEBTR7SH36FW4-models-are-read-only-while-t.md
index dd425425..afd5a25d 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZSEZBJJ3AMEBTR7SH36FW4-models-are-read-only-while-t.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZSEZBJJ3AMEBTR7SH36FW4-models-are-read-only-while-t.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function Composer
 created: 2026-10-15T12:44:15Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 6e0e6c5c8afbd01a
-body_hash: 50b1bf8d25d5e6da
-raw_hash: fcc5ab24dfd60256
-vouched: 2026-10-22T17:49:27Z
+body_hash: 7a4597684360db67
+raw_hash: 52e4e5fdab485c4d
+vouched: 2026-10-22T17:52:41Z
 lines: 101-290
 ---
 
diff --git a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZYQVGB6C87WBEV12WPQ8PF-a-withdrawn-message-returns.md b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZYQVGB6C87WBEV12WPQ8PF-a-withdrawn-message-returns.md
index c3d6ae44..b8160bdf 100644
--- a/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZYQVGB6C87WBEV12WPQ8PF-a-withdrawn-message-returns.md
+++ b/.lane/memory/apps/app/src/composer.tsx/01M4ZYQVGB6C87WBEV12WPQ8PF-a-withdrawn-message-returns.md
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ anchor: function Composer
 created: 2026-10-15T14:16:28Z
 norm: '1'
 sig: 6e0e6c5c8afbd01a
-body_hash: 50b1bf8d25d5e6da
-raw_hash: fcc5ab24dfd60256
-vouched: 2026-10-22T17:49:27Z
+body_hash: 7a4597684360db67
+raw_hash: 52e4e5fdab485c4d
+vouched: 2026-10-22T17:52:41Z
 lines: 104-326
 ---
 
diff --git a/apps/app/src/composer.tsx b/apps/app/src/composer.tsx
index a64d52b2..cee8e5a6 100644
--- a/apps/app/src/composer.tsx
+++ b/apps/app/src/composer.tsx
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ const BLOCKED_MODES = [{
 	name: "Chat",
 	placeholder: "Message the channel (agent access is off)",
 }];
+const UNKNOWN_MODES = [{ id: "chat", name: "Chat", placeholder: "Message the channel" }];
 const ACE_MENTION = { name: "ace", avatar: aceAvatar };
 export const EFFORTS: Record<Effort, string> = {
 	off: "Off",
@@ -122,8 +123,10 @@ export function Composer(
 	const [stored, changeMode] = useLocalStorage(`ace:mode:${scope}`, "ace");
 	// The channel refuses a blocked teammate's ask, stop, and kill too.
 	const blocked = shared === false && channel.owner !== user;
-	const mode = blocked ? "chat" : stored;
-	const mentions = useMemo(() => blocked ? members : [ACE_MENTION, ...members], [blocked, members]);
+	// Agent mode only once a teammate's access is known to be on, as it isn't while their Mac is offline.
+	const agents = channel.owner === user || shared === true;
+	const mode = agents ? stored : "chat";
+	const mentions = useMemo(() => agents ? [ACE_MENTION, ...members] : members, [agents, members]);
 	const [models, setModels] = useState<ModelOption[]>();
 	const [modelError, setModelError] = useState<string>();
 	const status = useSyncExternalStore(host.subscribe, () => host.status);
@@ -349,7 +352,7 @@ export function Composer(
 				scope={scope}
 				tools={!phone}
 				mic
-				modes={blocked ? BLOCKED_MODES : MODES}
+				modes={agents ? MODES : blocked ? BLOCKED_MODES : UNKNOWN_MODES}
 				mode={mode}
 				onModeChange={changeMode}
 				mentions={mentions}