diff --git a/docs/concepts/compaction.md b/docs/concepts/compaction.md
index 46bb5067809..ea6efe11ddd 100644
--- a/docs/concepts/compaction.md
+++ b/docs/concepts/compaction.md
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ Auto-compaction is on by default. It runs when the session nears the context lim
 
 You will see:
 
+- `embedded run auto-compaction start` / `complete` in normal Gateway logs.
 - `🧹 Auto-compaction complete` in verbose mode.
 - `/status` showing `🧹 Compactions: <count>`.
 
diff --git a/docs/reference/session-management-compaction.md b/docs/reference/session-management-compaction.md
index 1c93553cf2b..0725f7f59d6 100644
--- a/docs/reference/session-management-compaction.md
+++ b/docs/reference/session-management-compaction.md
@@ -376,6 +376,7 @@ You can observe compaction and session state via:
 - `/status` (in any chat session)
 - `openclaw status` (CLI)
 - `openclaw sessions` / `sessions --json`
+- Gateway logs (`pnpm gateway:watch` or `openclaw logs --follow`): `embedded run auto-compaction start` + `complete`
 - Verbose mode: `🧹 Auto-compaction complete` + compaction count
 
 ---
diff --git a/src/agents/openclaw-owned-tool-runtime-contract.test.ts b/src/agents/openclaw-owned-tool-runtime-contract.test.ts
index 23e8cf2dbc7..5796f234bd6 100644
--- a/src/agents/openclaw-owned-tool-runtime-contract.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/openclaw-owned-tool-runtime-contract.test.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ function createToolHandlerCtx(): ToolHandlerContext {
       messagingToolSentTargets: [] as MessagingToolSend[],
       successfulCronAdds: 0,
     },
-    log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+    log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
     flushBlockReplyBuffer: vi.fn(),
     shouldEmitToolResult: () => false,
     shouldEmitToolOutput: () => false,
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.test.ts
index 3079afeb09f..5534b4c72e8 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
 } from "./pi-embedded-subscribe.compaction-test-helpers.js";
 import {
   handleCompactionEnd,
+  handleCompactionStart,
   reconcileSessionStoreCompactionCountAfterSuccess,
 } from "./pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.js";
 import type { EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext } from "./pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.js";
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ function createCompactionContext(params: {
   sessionKey: string;
   agentId?: string;
   initialCount: number;
+  info?: (message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
 }): EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext {
   let compactionCount = params.initialCount;
   return {
@@ -37,6 +39,7 @@ function createCompactionContext(params: {
     } as never,
     log: {
       debug: vi.fn(),
+      info: params.info ?? vi.fn(),
       warn: vi.fn(),
     },
     ensureCompactionPromise: vi.fn(),
@@ -103,6 +106,168 @@ describe("reconcileSessionStoreCompactionCountAfterSuccess", () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe("compaction lifecycle logging", () => {
+  it("logs lifecycle events at info level for gateway watch visibility", async () => {
+    const tmp = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-compaction-log-"));
+    const storePath = path.join(tmp, "sessions.json");
+    const sessionKey = "main";
+    await seedSessionStore({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      compactionCount: 0,
+    });
+    const info = vi.fn();
+    const ctx = createCompactionContext({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      initialCount: 0,
+      info,
+    });
+
+    handleCompactionStart(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_start",
+      reason: "threshold",
+    });
+    handleCompactionEnd(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_end",
+      reason: "threshold",
+      result: { kept: 12 },
+      willRetry: false,
+      aborted: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      1,
+      "embedded run auto-compaction start",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_start",
+        reason: "threshold",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        consoleMessage: "embedded run auto-compaction start: runId=run-test reason=threshold",
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      "embedded run auto-compaction complete",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_end",
+        reason: "threshold",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        completed: true,
+        compactionCount: 1,
+        consoleMessage:
+          "embedded run auto-compaction complete: runId=run-test reason=threshold compactionCount=1 willRetry=false",
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("logs manual compaction as incomplete when no result is produced", async () => {
+    const tmp = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-compaction-incomplete-log-"));
+    const storePath = path.join(tmp, "sessions.json");
+    const sessionKey = "main";
+    await seedSessionStore({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      compactionCount: 0,
+    });
+    const info = vi.fn();
+    const ctx = createCompactionContext({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      initialCount: 0,
+      info,
+    });
+
+    handleCompactionStart(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_start",
+      reason: "manual",
+    });
+    handleCompactionEnd(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_end",
+      reason: "manual",
+      result: undefined,
+      willRetry: false,
+      aborted: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      1,
+      "embedded run manual compaction start",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_start",
+        reason: "manual",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        consoleMessage: "embedded run manual compaction start: runId=run-test reason=manual",
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      "embedded run manual compaction incomplete",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_end",
+        reason: "manual",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        completed: false,
+        aborted: false,
+        consoleMessage:
+          "embedded run manual compaction incomplete: runId=run-test reason=manual aborted=false willRetry=false",
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("defaults legacy synthetic compaction events to threshold logs", async () => {
+    const tmp = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-compaction-legacy-log-"));
+    const storePath = path.join(tmp, "sessions.json");
+    const sessionKey = "main";
+    await seedSessionStore({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      compactionCount: 0,
+    });
+    const info = vi.fn();
+    const ctx = createCompactionContext({
+      storePath,
+      sessionKey,
+      initialCount: 0,
+      info,
+    });
+
+    handleCompactionStart(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_start",
+    });
+    handleCompactionEnd(ctx, {
+      type: "compaction_end",
+      result: { kept: 12 },
+      willRetry: false,
+      aborted: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      1,
+      "embedded run auto-compaction start",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_start",
+        reason: "threshold",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        consoleMessage: "embedded run auto-compaction start: runId=run-test reason=threshold",
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(info).toHaveBeenNthCalledWith(
+      2,
+      "embedded run auto-compaction complete",
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        event: "embedded_run_compaction_end",
+        reason: "threshold",
+        runId: "run-test",
+        completed: true,
+        compactionCount: 1,
+        consoleMessage:
+          "embedded run auto-compaction complete: runId=run-test reason=threshold compactionCount=1 willRetry=false",
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+});
+
 describe("handleCompactionEnd", () => {
   it("reconciles the session store after a successful compaction end event", async () => {
     const tmp = await fs.mkdtemp(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "openclaw-compaction-handler-"));
@@ -122,10 +287,11 @@ describe("handleCompactionEnd", () => {
 
     handleCompactionEnd(ctx, {
       type: "compaction_end",
+      reason: "threshold",
       result: { kept: 12 },
       willRetry: false,
       aborted: false,
-    } as never);
+    });
 
     await waitForCompactionCount({
       storePath,
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.ts
index 4d7106d094b..1a8712f1c37 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.compaction.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,48 @@
-import type { AgentEvent } from "@earendil-works/pi-agent-core";
+import type { AgentSessionEvent } from "@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent";
 import { emitAgentEvent } from "../infra/agent-events.js";
 import { getGlobalHookRunner } from "../plugins/hook-runner-global.js";
 import type { EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext } from "./pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.js";
 import { makeZeroUsageSnapshot } from "./usage.js";
 
-export function handleCompactionStart(ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext) {
+type SessionCompactionStartEvent = Extract<AgentSessionEvent, { type: "compaction_start" }>;
+type SessionCompactionEndEvent = Extract<AgentSessionEvent, { type: "compaction_end" }>;
+type CompactionReason = SessionCompactionStartEvent["reason"];
+
+type CompactionStartEvent = SessionCompactionStartEvent | {
+  type: "compaction_start";
+  reason?: unknown;
+};
+
+type CompactionEndEvent = SessionCompactionEndEvent | {
+  type: "compaction_end";
+  reason?: unknown;
+  willRetry?: unknown;
+  result?: unknown;
+  aborted?: unknown;
+};
+
+function normalizeCompactionReason(reason: unknown): CompactionReason {
+  return reason === "manual" || reason === "threshold" || reason === "overflow"
+    ? reason
+    : "threshold";
+}
+
+function compactionLogKind(reason: CompactionReason): string {
+  return reason === "manual" ? "manual compaction" : "auto-compaction";
+}
+
+export function handleCompactionStart(ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext, evt: CompactionStartEvent) {
+  const reason = normalizeCompactionReason(evt.reason);
+  const kind = compactionLogKind(reason);
   ctx.state.compactionInFlight = true;
   ctx.state.livenessState = "paused";
   ctx.ensureCompactionPromise();
-  ctx.log.debug(`embedded run compaction start: runId=${ctx.params.runId}`);
+  ctx.log.info(`embedded run ${kind} start`, {
+    event: "embedded_run_compaction_start",
+    runId: ctx.params.runId,
+    reason,
+    consoleMessage: `embedded run ${kind} start: runId=${ctx.params.runId} reason=${reason}`,
+  });
   emitAgentEvent({
     runId: ctx.params.runId,
     stream: "compaction",
@@ -39,10 +73,9 @@ export function handleCompactionStart(ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext) {
   }
 }
 
-export function handleCompactionEnd(
-  ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext,
-  evt: AgentEvent & { willRetry?: unknown; result?: unknown; aborted?: unknown },
-) {
+export function handleCompactionEnd(ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeContext, evt: CompactionEndEvent) {
+  const reason = normalizeCompactionReason(evt.reason);
+  const kind = compactionLogKind(reason);
   ctx.state.compactionInFlight = false;
   const willRetry = Boolean(evt.willRetry);
   // Increment counter whenever compaction actually produced a result,
@@ -59,6 +92,15 @@ export function handleCompactionEnd(
         : undefined;
     ctx.noteCompactionTokensAfter(tokensAfter);
     const observedCompactionCount = ctx.getCompactionCount();
+    ctx.log.info(`embedded run ${kind} complete`, {
+      event: "embedded_run_compaction_end",
+      runId: ctx.params.runId,
+      reason,
+      completed: true,
+      willRetry,
+      compactionCount: observedCompactionCount,
+      consoleMessage: `embedded run ${kind} complete: runId=${ctx.params.runId} reason=${reason} compactionCount=${observedCompactionCount} willRetry=${willRetry}`,
+    });
     void reconcileSessionStoreCompactionCountAfterSuccess({
       sessionKey: ctx.params.sessionKey,
       agentId: ctx.params.agentId,
@@ -79,6 +121,17 @@ export function handleCompactionEnd(
     ctx.maybeResolveCompactionWait();
     clearStaleAssistantUsageOnSessionMessages(ctx);
   }
+  if (!hasResult || wasAborted) {
+    ctx.log.info(`embedded run ${kind} incomplete`, {
+      event: "embedded_run_compaction_end",
+      runId: ctx.params.runId,
+      reason,
+      completed: false,
+      willRetry,
+      aborted: wasAborted,
+      consoleMessage: `embedded run ${kind} incomplete: runId=${ctx.params.runId} reason=${reason} aborted=${wasAborted} willRetry=${willRetry}`,
+    });
+  }
   emitAgentEvent({
     runId: ctx.params.runId,
     stream: "compaction",
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.messages.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.messages.test.ts
index 3fb9c20fc76..d6bac569ba2 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.messages.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.messages.test.ts
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ function createMessageEndContext(
     noteLastAssistant: vi.fn(),
     recordAssistantUsage: vi.fn(),
     commitAssistantUsage: vi.fn(),
-    log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: params.warn ?? vi.fn() },
+    log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: params.warn ?? vi.fn() },
     builtinToolNames: params.builtinToolNames,
     stripBlockTags: (text: string) => text,
     finalizeAssistantTexts: params.finalizeAssistantTexts ?? vi.fn(),
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.media.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.media.test.ts
index 2e93720f96a..a5e410619ab 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.media.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.media.test.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ function createMockContext(overrides?: {
       deterministicApprovalPromptPending: false,
       deterministicApprovalPromptSent: false,
     },
-    log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+    log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
     builtinToolNames: overrides?.builtinToolNames,
     shouldEmitToolResult: vi.fn(() => false),
     shouldEmitToolOutput: vi.fn(() => overrides?.shouldEmitToolOutput ?? false),
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.test.ts
index f8de2f0ab73..2cb710d204d 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.tools.test.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ function createTestContext(): {
     hookRunner: undefined,
     log: {
       debug: vi.fn(),
+      info: vi.fn(),
       warn,
     },
     state: {
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.ts
index 09138d660c8..b22a76d8fd2 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.ts
@@ -115,12 +115,12 @@ export function createEmbeddedPiSessionEventHandler(ctx: EmbeddedPiSubscribeCont
         return;
       case "compaction_start":
         scheduleEvent(evt, () => {
-          handleCompactionStart(ctx);
+          handleCompactionStart(ctx, evt);
         });
         return;
       case "compaction_end":
         scheduleEvent(evt, () => {
-          handleCompactionEnd(ctx, evt as never);
+          handleCompactionEnd(ctx, evt);
         });
         return;
       case "agent_end":
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.ts
index 90d508b2901..1b17b3d88e9 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-subscribe.handlers.types.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import type { AgentEvent, AgentMessage } from "@earendil-works/pi-agent-core";
+import type { AgentMessage } from "@earendil-works/pi-agent-core";
+import type { AgentSessionEvent } from "@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent";
 import type { HeartbeatToolResponse } from "../auto-reply/heartbeat-tool-response.js";
 import type { ReplyDirectiveParseResult } from "../auto-reply/reply/reply-directives.js";
 import type { ReasoningLevel } from "../auto-reply/thinking.js";
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import type { NormalizedUsage } from "./usage.js";
 
 type EmbeddedSubscribeLogger = {
   debug: (message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
+  info: (message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
   warn: (message: string, meta?: Record<string, unknown>) => void;
 };
 
@@ -237,6 +239,6 @@ export type ToolHandlerContext = {
 };
 
 export type EmbeddedPiSubscribeEvent =
-  | AgentEvent
+  | AgentSessionEvent
   | { type: string; [k: string]: unknown }
   | { type: "message_start"; message: AgentMessage };
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tool-definition-adapter.after-tool-call.fires-once.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-tool-definition-adapter.after-tool-call.fires-once.test.ts
index a2518b98f6f..8af72da8837 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tool-definition-adapter.after-tool-call.fires-once.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tool-definition-adapter.after-tool-call.fires-once.test.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function createToolHandlerCtx() {
       ...createBaseToolHandlerState(),
       successfulCronAdds: 0,
     },
-    log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+    log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
     flushBlockReplyBuffer: vi.fn(),
     shouldEmitToolResult: () => false,
     shouldEmitToolOutput: () => false,
diff --git a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-after-tool-call.e2e.test.ts b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-after-tool-call.e2e.test.ts
index 840c25904f9..f806f80eb77 100644
--- a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-after-tool-call.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-after-tool-call.e2e.test.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ function createToolHandlerCtx(params: {
     state: {
       ...createBaseToolHandlerState(),
     },
-    log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+    log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
     flushBlockReplyBuffer: vi.fn(),
     shouldEmitToolResult: () => false,
     shouldEmitToolOutput: () => false,
diff --git a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-compaction.test.ts b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-compaction.test.ts
index 68361f079f2..c84177794d5 100644
--- a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-compaction.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-compaction.test.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe("compaction hook wiring", () => {
         },
       },
       state: { compactionInFlight: true },
-      log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+      log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
       maybeResolveCompactionWait: vi.fn(),
       incrementCompactionCount: vi.fn(),
       getCompactionCount: () => params.compactionCount ?? 0,
@@ -136,12 +136,12 @@ describe("compaction hook wiring", () => {
         onAgentEvent: vi.fn(),
       },
       state: { compactionInFlight: false },
-      log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+      log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
       incrementCompactionCount: vi.fn(),
       ensureCompactionPromise: vi.fn(),
     };
 
-    handleCompactionStart(ctx as never);
+    handleCompactionStart(ctx as never, { type: "compaction_start", reason: "threshold" });
 
     expect(hookMocks.runner.runBeforeCompaction).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
     expectCompactionEvent({
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ describe("compaction hook wiring", () => {
     const ctx = {
       params: { runId: "r4", session: { messages } },
       state: { compactionInFlight: true },
-      log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+      log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
       maybeResolveCompactionWait: vi.fn(),
       getCompactionCount: () => 1,
       incrementCompactionCount: vi.fn(),
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ describe("compaction hook wiring", () => {
     const ctx = {
       params: { runId: "r5", session: { messages } },
       state: { compactionInFlight: true },
-      log: { debug: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
+      log: { debug: vi.fn(), info: vi.fn(), warn: vi.fn() },
       noteCompactionRetry: vi.fn(),
       resetForCompactionRetry: vi.fn(),
       getCompactionCount: () => 0,