diff --git a/docs/agent-lifecycle.md b/docs/agent-lifecycle.md
index e58f0d5c1..680122391 100644
--- a/docs/agent-lifecycle.md
+++ b/docs/agent-lifecycle.md
@@ -21,16 +21,8 @@ the agent runs through `ensureAgentLoaded()`, which resumes the durable provider
 same Paseo agent ID. Provider history is not appended again when the canonical timeline is already
 primed.
 
-The daemon collects an eligible idle runtime after 30 minutes and sweeps every minute. Only
-unarchived, non-internal agents that are exactly `idle`, have no active or pending run, replacement,
-or permission, and have not been activated during the idle window are eligible. `running`,
-`initializing`, and `error` agents stay resident. An idle parent also stays resident while current
-in-memory state shows a running managed child or provider subagent. Otherwise agents are evaluated
-independently; collection does not cascade or change parentage.
-
-Active schedules targeting an existing agent protect that agent from collection. Paused, completed,
-and new-agent schedules do not. A pane may remain open after collection; its next prompt resumes the
-runtime.
+Idle agents remain resident indefinitely. Runtime closure happens only through an explicit lifecycle
+action such as archive, replacement, reload, workspace teardown, or daemon shutdown.
 
 ### Cancellation
 
@@ -59,9 +51,8 @@ The provider still owns the underlying runtime. Paseo keeps an agent record so t
 
 Archive is a **soft delete**: the agent record stays on disk with `archivedAt` set, the runtime is closed, and the agent disappears from active lists. Archive is **global** — it lives on the server and propagates to every connected client.
 
-Archive is distinct from runtime collection. Archive sets `archivedAt`, invokes the provider's native
-archive hook, and cascades to managed children. Runtime collection does none of those things; it only
-releases the live runtime and writes `lastStatus: closed` on the still-active record.
+Archive sets `archivedAt`, invokes the provider's native archive hook, and cascades to managed
+children.
 
 `create_agent_request` can opt an agent into `autoArchive`. In that mode the daemon archives the agent after the first terminal turn event (`turn_completed`, `turn_failed`, or `turn_canceled`). When the agent owns an isolated workspace, auto-archive archives that workspace too; the managed worktree is removed when its final workspace reference is gone.
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-loading.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-loading.ts
index c4a32e5f5..f87f38911 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-loading.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-loading.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export type AgentLoaderManager = Pick<
   | "hydrateTimelineFromProvider"
   | "resumeAgentFromPersistence"
 > &
-  Partial<Pick<AgentManager, "touchAgentActivity" | "waitForAgentClose">>;
+  Partial<Pick<AgentManager, "waitForAgentClose">>;
 
 export interface EnsureAgentLoadedDeps {
   agentManager: AgentLoaderManager;
@@ -71,8 +71,7 @@ export async function ensureAgentLoaded(
     return inflight.promise;
   }
 
-  const existing =
-    deps.agentManager.touchAgentActivity?.(agentId) ?? deps.agentManager.getAgent(agentId);
+  const existing = deps.agentManager.getAgent(agentId);
   if (existing) {
     return existing;
   }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.test.ts
index 10dcea8f9..1ff1b1933 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.test.ts
@@ -7257,108 +7257,57 @@ test("closeAgent persists one final closed snapshot", async () => {
   }
 });
 
-test("collectIdleAgents releases an idle runtime and resumes the same agent and timeline", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-idle-collection-"));
-  const storage = new AgentStorage(join(workdir, "agents"), logger);
-  let activeSession: TestAgentSession | null = null;
-  const client = new (class extends NativeArchiveRecordingClient {
+test("idle agents remain resident until an explicit lifecycle action closes them", async () => {
+  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-idle-residency-"));
+  let closeCount = 0;
+  let resumeCount = 0;
+  const client = new (class extends TestAgentClient {
     override async createSession(config: AgentSessionConfig): Promise<AgentSession> {
-      activeSession = new TestAgentSession(config);
-      return activeSession;
+      const recordClose = () => {
+        closeCount += 1;
+      };
+      return new (class extends TestAgentSession {
+        override async close(): Promise<void> {
+          recordClose();
+        }
+      })(config);
+    }
+
+    override async resumeSession(
+      handle: AgentPersistenceHandle,
+      config?: Partial<AgentSessionConfig>,
+      launchContext?: AgentLaunchContext,
+    ): Promise<AgentSession> {
+      resumeCount += 1;
+      return super.resumeSession(handle, config, launchContext);
     }
   })();
-  const manager = new AgentManager({
-    clients: { codex: client },
-    registry: storage,
-    logger,
-    idFactory: () => "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000210",
-  });
+  const manager = new AgentManager({ clients: { codex: client }, logger });
 
   try {
-    const created = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: "workspace-idle-collection",
-    });
-    await manager.appendTimelineItem(created.id, {
-      type: "user_message",
-      text: "Keep this timeline",
-    });
-    activeSession?.pushEvent({
-      type: "provider_subagent",
-      provider: "codex",
-      event: {
-        type: "upsert",
-        id: "retained-provider-child",
-        title: "Retained provider child",
-        status: "completed",
-      },
-    });
-    await manager.flush();
-    const timelineBeforeCollection = manager.getTimeline(created.id);
-
-    const collection = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
+    const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
+      workspaceId: undefined,
     });
 
-    expect(collection).toEqual({
-      collected: [
-        {
-          agentId: created.id,
-          provider: "codex",
-          sessionId: created.persistence?.sessionId,
-        },
-      ],
-      failures: [],
-    });
-    expect(manager.getAgent(created.id)).toBeNull();
-    expect(client.archivedHandles).toEqual([]);
-    const stored = await storage.get(created.id);
-    expect(stored).toMatchObject({
-      id: created.id,
-      lastStatus: "closed",
-      workspaceId: "workspace-idle-collection",
-    });
-    expect(stored?.archivedAt).toBeFalsy();
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 25));
 
-    const resumed = await ensureAgentLoaded(created.id, {
-      agentManager: manager,
-      agentStorage: storage,
-      logger,
-    });
+    expect(manager.getAgent(agent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
+    expect(closeCount).toBe(0);
 
-    expect(resumed.id).toBe(created.id);
-    expect(resumed.persistence).toEqual(created.persistence);
-    expect(manager.getTimeline(created.id)).toEqual(timelineBeforeCollection);
-    expect(manager.listProviderSubagents(created.id)).toEqual([
-      expect.objectContaining({
-        id: "retained-provider-child",
-        title: "Retained provider child",
-        status: "completed",
-      }),
-    ]);
-    const idleBeforeOpen = resumed.updatedAt;
-    await ensureAgentLoaded(created.id, {
-      agentManager: manager,
-      agentStorage: storage,
-      logger,
-    });
-    await expect(
-      manager.collectIdleAgents({ cutoff: idleBeforeOpen, protectedAgentIds: new Set() }),
-    ).resolves.toMatchObject({ collected: [] });
-    await expect(manager.runAgent(created.id, "Continue the same agent")).resolves.toMatchObject({
-      finalText: "",
-      canceled: false,
-    });
-    expect(manager.getAgent(created.id)?.id).toBe(created.id);
+    await manager.runAgent(agent.id, "Continue on the resident runtime");
+
+    expect(manager.getAgent(agent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
+    expect(resumeCount).toBe(0);
   } finally {
-    await manager.flush().catch(() => undefined);
-    await storage.flush().catch(() => undefined);
+    await Promise.all(manager.listAgents().map((agent) => manager.closeAgent(agent.id))).catch(
+      () => undefined,
+    );
     rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   }
 });
 
-test("archiving an idle-collected parent still cascades to its managed children", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-collected-parent-archive-"));
+test("archiving a closed parent still cascades to its managed children", async () => {
+  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-closed-parent-archive-"));
   const storage = new AgentStorage(join(workdir, "agents"), logger);
   const manager = new AgentManager({
     clients: { codex: new TestAgentClient() },
@@ -7368,7 +7317,7 @@ test("archiving an idle-collected parent still cascades to its managed children"
 
   try {
     const parent = await manager.createAgent(
-      { provider: "codex", cwd: workdir, title: "Collected parent" },
+      { provider: "codex", cwd: workdir, title: "Closed parent" },
       undefined,
       { workspaceId: undefined },
     );
@@ -7381,10 +7330,7 @@ test("archiving an idle-collected parent still cascades to its managed children"
       },
     );
 
-    await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set([child.id]),
-    });
+    await manager.closeAgent(parent.id);
     await manager.archiveSnapshot(parent.id, new Date().toISOString());
 
     expect((await storage.get(parent.id))?.archivedAt).toEqual(expect.any(String));
@@ -7410,10 +7356,7 @@ test("ensureUnarchivedAgentLoaded does not resume an archived agent", async () =
     const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
       workspaceId: undefined,
     });
-    await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    await manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
     await manager.archiveSnapshot(agent.id, new Date().toISOString());
 
     await expect(
@@ -7452,10 +7395,7 @@ test("ensureUnarchivedAgentLoaded closes a runtime archived while it resumes", a
     const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
       workspaceId: undefined,
     });
-    await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    await manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
 
     const load = ensureUnarchivedAgentLoaded(agent.id, {
       agentManager: manager,
@@ -7498,10 +7438,7 @@ test("ensureUnarchivedAgentLoaded fences an archived agent after joining a share
     const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
       workspaceId: undefined,
     });
-    await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    await manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
 
     const sharedLoad = ensureAgentLoaded(agent.id, {
       agentManager: manager,
@@ -7557,10 +7494,7 @@ test("a shared agent load upgrades provider history hydration to broadcast", asy
     const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
       workspaceId: undefined,
     });
-    await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    await manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
     await manager.deleteAgentState(agent.id);
     const events: AgentManagerEvent[] = [];
     manager.subscribe((event) => events.push(event), { agentId: agent.id, replayState: false });
@@ -7598,166 +7532,7 @@ test("a shared agent load upgrades provider history hydration to broadcast", asy
   }
 });
 
-test("collectIdleAgents leaves recent, protected, internal, running, and error agents resident", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-idle-eligibility-"));
-  const client = new SessionRecordingAgentClient();
-  const ids = [
-    "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000211",
-    "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000212",
-    "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000213",
-    "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000214",
-    "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000215",
-  ];
-  const manager = new AgentManager({
-    clients: { codex: client },
-    logger,
-    idFactory: () => ids.shift()!,
-  });
-
-  try {
-    const recent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    const protectedAgent = await manager.createAgent(
-      { provider: "codex", cwd: workdir },
-      undefined,
-      { workspaceId: undefined },
-    );
-    const internal = await manager.createAgent(
-      { provider: "codex", cwd: workdir, internal: true },
-      undefined,
-      { workspaceId: undefined },
-    );
-    const running = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    const failed = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    client.sessions[3]!.pushEvent({
-      type: "turn_started",
-      provider: "codex",
-      turnId: "autonomous-running",
-    });
-    client.sessions[4]!.pushEvent({
-      type: "turn_failed",
-      provider: "codex",
-      turnId: "autonomous-failed",
-      error: "provider failed",
-    });
-    await manager.flush();
-
-    const recentSweep = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(recent.updatedAt.getTime() - 1),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
-    const protectedSweep = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set([protectedAgent.id, recent.id]),
-    });
-
-    expect(recentSweep.collected).toEqual([]);
-    expect(protectedSweep.collected).toEqual([]);
-    expect(manager.getAgent(recent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(protectedAgent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(internal.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(running.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("running");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(failed.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("error");
-  } finally {
-    await Promise.all(manager.listAgents().map((agent) => manager.closeAgent(agent.id))).catch(
-      () => undefined,
-    );
-    rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-  }
-});
-
-test("collectIdleAgents protects an idle parent with a running managed child", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-running-child-"));
-  const client = new SessionRecordingAgentClient();
-  const manager = new AgentManager({ clients: { codex: client }, logger });
-
-  try {
-    const parent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    const child = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      labels: { [PARENT_AGENT_ID_LABEL]: parent.id },
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    const independent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    client.sessions[1]!.pushEvent({
-      type: "turn_started",
-      provider: "codex",
-      turnId: "managed-child-running",
-    });
-    await manager.flush();
-
-    const collection = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
-
-    expect(collection).toEqual({
-      collected: [expect.objectContaining({ agentId: independent.id })],
-      failures: [],
-    });
-    expect(manager.getAgent(parent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(child.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("running");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(independent.id)).toBeNull();
-  } finally {
-    await Promise.all(manager.listAgents().map((agent) => manager.closeAgent(agent.id))).catch(
-      () => undefined,
-    );
-    rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-  }
-});
-
-test("collectIdleAgents protects an idle parent with a running provider subagent", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-running-provider-child-"));
-  const client = new SessionRecordingAgentClient();
-  const manager = new AgentManager({ clients: { codex: client }, logger });
-
-  try {
-    const parent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    const independent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
-      workspaceId: undefined,
-    });
-    client.sessions[0]!.pushEvent({
-      type: "provider_subagent",
-      provider: "codex",
-      event: {
-        type: "upsert",
-        id: "provider-child-running",
-        title: "Provider child",
-        status: "running",
-      },
-    });
-    await manager.flush();
-
-    const collection = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
-
-    expect(collection).toEqual({
-      collected: [expect.objectContaining({ agentId: independent.id })],
-      failures: [],
-    });
-    expect(manager.getAgent(parent.id)?.lifecycle).toBe("idle");
-    expect(manager.getAgent(independent.id)).toBeNull();
-  } finally {
-    await Promise.all(manager.listAgents().map((agent) => manager.closeAgent(agent.id))).catch(
-      () => undefined,
-    );
-    rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
-  }
-});
-
-test("closed provider subagents do not block collection after resume", async () => {
+test("explicit close cancels running provider subagents before resume", async () => {
   const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-closed-provider-child-"));
   const storage = new AgentStorage(join(workdir, "agents"), logger);
   const client = new SessionRecordingAgentClient();
@@ -7811,11 +7586,6 @@ test("closed provider subagents do not block collection after resume", async ()
     expect(manager.getProviderSubagent(parent.id, "provider-child-finishing")?.status).toBe(
       "completed",
     );
-    const collection = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
-    expect(collection.collected).toEqual([expect.objectContaining({ agentId: parent.id })]);
   } finally {
     await Promise.all(manager.listAgents().map((agent) => manager.closeAgent(agent.id))).catch(
       () => undefined,
@@ -7825,8 +7595,8 @@ test("closed provider subagents do not block collection after resume", async ()
   }
 });
 
-test("load waits for an in-flight collection close and creates only one resumed runtime", async () => {
-  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-idle-close-race-"));
+test("load waits for an in-flight explicit close and creates one resumed runtime", async () => {
+  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-explicit-close-race-"));
   const storage = new AgentStorage(join(workdir, "agents"), logger);
   const closeStarted = deferred<void>();
   const closeAllowed = deferred<void>();
@@ -7858,10 +7628,7 @@ test("load waits for an in-flight collection close and creates only one resumed
       "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000216",
       { workspaceId: undefined },
     );
-    const collection = manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    const close = manager.closeAgent(created.id);
     await closeStarted.promise;
     const loads = Promise.all([
       ensureAgentLoaded(created.id, { agentManager: manager, agentStorage: storage, logger }),
@@ -7871,18 +7638,58 @@ test("load waits for an in-flight collection close and creates only one resumed
     expect(client.resumeCount).toBe(0);
     closeAllowed.resolve();
     const [first, second] = await loads;
-    await collection;
+    await close;
 
     expect(first.id).toBe(created.id);
     expect(second.id).toBe(created.id);
     expect(client.resumeCount).toBe(1);
   } finally {
+    closeAllowed.resolve();
     await manager.closeAgent("00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000216").catch(() => undefined);
     await storage.flush().catch(() => undefined);
     rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
   }
 });
 
+test("concurrent explicit closes tear down the runtime once", async () => {
+  const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-concurrent-close-"));
+  const closeStarted = deferred<void>();
+  const closeAllowed = deferred<void>();
+  let closeCount = 0;
+  const client = new (class extends TestAgentClient {
+    override async createSession(config: AgentSessionConfig): Promise<AgentSession> {
+      const recordClose = () => {
+        closeCount += 1;
+      };
+      return new (class extends TestAgentSession {
+        override async close(): Promise<void> {
+          recordClose();
+          closeStarted.resolve();
+          await closeAllowed.promise;
+        }
+      })(config);
+    }
+  })();
+  const manager = new AgentManager({ clients: { codex: client }, logger });
+
+  try {
+    const agent = await manager.createAgent({ provider: "codex", cwd: workdir }, undefined, {
+      workspaceId: undefined,
+    });
+    const firstClose = manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
+    await closeStarted.promise;
+    const secondClose = manager.closeAgent(agent.id);
+
+    closeAllowed.resolve();
+    await Promise.all([firstClose, secondClose]);
+
+    expect(closeCount).toBe(1);
+  } finally {
+    closeAllowed.resolve();
+    rmSync(workdir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+  }
+});
+
 test("provider close failure still persists and emits a resumable closed agent", async () => {
   const workdir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "agent-manager-close-failure-"));
   const storage = new AgentStorage(join(workdir, "agents"), logger);
@@ -7905,18 +7712,8 @@ test("provider close failure still persists and emits a resumable closed agent",
     );
     const closed = waitForAgentLifecycle(manager, created.id, "closed");
 
-    const collection = await manager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
+    await expect(manager.closeAgent(created.id)).rejects.toThrow("provider cleanup failed");
     await closed;
-    expect(collection.collected).toEqual([]);
-    expect(collection.failures).toHaveLength(1);
-    expect(collection.failures[0]).toMatchObject({
-      agentId: created.id,
-      provider: "codex",
-      error: expect.objectContaining({ message: "provider cleanup failed" }),
-    });
     const stored = await storage.get(created.id);
     expect(stored).toMatchObject({ lastStatus: "closed" });
     expect(stored?.archivedAt).toBeFalsy();
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.ts
index dc87d3196..e6c4e68a8 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/agent-manager.ts
@@ -394,21 +394,6 @@ export interface AgentMetricsSnapshot {
   };
 }
 
-export interface IdleAgentCollectionEntry {
-  agentId: string;
-  provider: AgentProvider;
-  sessionId?: string;
-}
-
-export interface IdleAgentCollectionFailure extends IdleAgentCollectionEntry {
-  error: unknown;
-}
-
-export interface IdleAgentCollectionResult {
-  collected: IdleAgentCollectionEntry[];
-  failures: IdleAgentCollectionFailure[];
-}
-
 type ActiveManagedAgent =
   | ManagedAgentInitializing
   | ManagedAgentIdle
@@ -969,15 +954,6 @@ export class AgentManager {
     return agent ? { ...agent } : null;
   }
 
-  touchAgentActivity(id: string): ManagedAgent | null {
-    const agent = this.agents?.get(id);
-    if (!agent) {
-      return null;
-    }
-    this.touchUpdatedAt(agent);
-    return { ...agent };
-  }
-
   async waitForAgentClose(agentId: string): Promise<void> {
     await this.inFlightAgentCloses?.get(agentId)?.catch(() => undefined);
   }
@@ -1436,66 +1412,6 @@ export class AgentManager {
     }
   }
 
-  async collectIdleAgents(options: {
-    cutoff: Date;
-    protectedAgentIds: ReadonlySet<string>;
-  }): Promise<IdleAgentCollectionResult> {
-    const result: IdleAgentCollectionResult = { collected: [], failures: [] };
-
-    for (const agent of Array.from(this.agents.values())) {
-      const current = this.agents.get(agent.id);
-      if (!current || !this.isIdleAgentCollectable(current, options)) {
-        continue;
-      }
-
-      const entry: IdleAgentCollectionEntry = {
-        agentId: current.id,
-        provider: current.provider,
-        ...(current.persistence?.sessionId ? { sessionId: current.persistence.sessionId } : {}),
-      };
-      try {
-        await this.closeAgent(current.id);
-        result.collected.push(entry);
-      } catch (error) {
-        result.failures.push({ ...entry, error });
-      }
-    }
-
-    return result;
-  }
-
-  private isIdleAgentCollectable(
-    agent: LiveManagedAgent,
-    options: { cutoff: Date; protectedAgentIds: ReadonlySet<string> },
-  ): agent is ManagedAgentIdle {
-    return (
-      agent.lifecycle === "idle" &&
-      agent.updatedAt.getTime() <= options.cutoff.getTime() &&
-      !agent.internal &&
-      !options.protectedAgentIds.has(agent.id) &&
-      agent.activeForegroundTurnId === null &&
-      !this.runs.hasRun(agent.id) &&
-      !agent.pendingReplacement &&
-      agent.pendingPermissions.size === 0 &&
-      agent.inFlightPermissionResponses.size === 0 &&
-      !this.hasRunningChild(agent.id)
-    );
-  }
-
-  private hasRunningChild(parentAgentId: string): boolean {
-    for (const agent of this.agents.values()) {
-      if (
-        agent.lifecycle === "running" &&
-        getParentAgentIdFromLabels(agent.labels) === parentAgentId
-      ) {
-        return true;
-      }
-    }
-    return this.providerSubagents
-      .list(parentAgentId)
-      .some((subagent) => subagent.status === "running");
-  }
-
   async archiveAgent(agentId: string): Promise<{ archivedAt: string }> {
     const agent = this.requireAgent(agentId);
     if (!this.registry) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode-agent-commands.e2e.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode-agent-commands.e2e.test.ts
index 8dd3832cf..4342ffc00 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode-agent-commands.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/agent/providers/opencode-agent-commands.e2e.test.ts
@@ -37,19 +37,14 @@ describe("opencode agent commands E2E", () => {
     }
   }, 60_000);
 
-  test("listing commands resumes an idle-collected agent", async () => {
+  test("listing commands resumes an explicitly closed agent", async () => {
     const agent = await ctx.client.createAgent({
       ...getFullAccessConfig("opencode"),
       cwd: "/tmp",
-      title: "Collected OpenCode Commands Test Agent",
+      title: "Closed OpenCode Commands Test Agent",
     });
 
-    const collection = await ctx.daemon.daemon.agentManager.collectIdleAgents({
-      cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-      protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-    });
-    expect(collection.failures).toEqual([]);
-    expect(collection.collected.map((entry) => entry.agentId)).toContain(agent.id);
+    await ctx.daemon.daemon.agentManager.closeAgent(agent.id);
     expect(ctx.daemon.daemon.agentManager.getAgent(agent.id)).toBeNull();
 
     const result = await ctx.client.listCommands({ agentId: agent.id });
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/bootstrap.ts b/packages/server/src/server/bootstrap.ts
index 31fcd5400..2a1005cb7 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/bootstrap.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/bootstrap.ts
@@ -215,8 +215,6 @@ import { DaemonExecutions } from "./hub/daemon-executions.js";
 
 const MAX_MCP_DEBUG_BATCH_ITEMS = 10;
 const REDACTED_LOG_VALUE = "[redacted]";
-const IDLE_AGENT_RUNTIME_TTL_MS = 30 * 60 * 1000;
-const IDLE_AGENT_RUNTIME_SWEEP_INTERVAL_MS = 60 * 1000;
 const DOWNLOAD_OPEN_FLAGS =
   process.platform === "win32" ? constants.O_RDONLY : constants.O_RDONLY | constants.O_NOFOLLOW;
 
@@ -1194,39 +1192,6 @@ export async function createPaseoDaemon(
     archiveWorkspace: archiveScheduleWorkspaceExternal,
   });
   await scheduleService.start();
-  let inFlightIdleAgentCollection: Promise<void> | null = null;
-  const collectIdleAgentRuntimes = async () => {
-    const protectedAgentIds = await scheduleService.listActiveAgentTargetIds();
-    const cutoff = new Date(Date.now() - IDLE_AGENT_RUNTIME_TTL_MS);
-    const result = await agentManager.collectIdleAgents({ cutoff, protectedAgentIds });
-    for (const collected of result.collected) {
-      logger.info(collected, "Collected idle agent runtime");
-    }
-    for (const failure of result.failures) {
-      const { error, ...context } = failure;
-      logger.warn({ ...context, err: error }, "Failed to collect idle agent runtime");
-    }
-  };
-  const runIdleAgentCollection = () => {
-    if (inFlightIdleAgentCollection) {
-      return;
-    }
-    const collection = collectIdleAgentRuntimes()
-      .catch((error) => {
-        logger.warn({ err: error }, "Idle agent runtime sweep failed");
-      })
-      .finally(() => {
-        if (inFlightIdleAgentCollection === collection) {
-          inFlightIdleAgentCollection = null;
-        }
-      });
-    inFlightIdleAgentCollection = collection;
-  };
-  const idleAgentCollectionTimer = setInterval(
-    runIdleAgentCollection,
-    IDLE_AGENT_RUNTIME_SWEEP_INTERVAL_MS,
-  );
-  idleAgentCollectionTimer.unref();
   agentManager.setAgentArchivedCallback(async (agentId) => {
     try {
       await scheduleService.completeForAgent(agentId);
@@ -1634,8 +1599,6 @@ export async function createPaseoDaemon(
     await hubRelationships.stop();
     workspaceReconciliation.dispose();
     scriptHealthMonitor.stop();
-    clearInterval(idleAgentCollectionTimer);
-    await inFlightIdleAgentCollection;
     // Freeze both ingress and registration before taking the agent closure snapshot.
     wsServer?.prepareForShutdown();
     agentManager.prepareForShutdown();
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/daemon-e2e/pi.real.e2e.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/daemon-e2e/pi.real.e2e.test.ts
index ef7d43a0f..5a0510c1e 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/daemon-e2e/pi.real.e2e.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/daemon-e2e/pi.real.e2e.test.ts
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ test(
 );
 
 test(
-  "resumed Pi prompts retain their exact native entry ids after idle collection",
+  "resumed Pi prompts retain their exact native entry ids after explicit runtime close",
   async () => {
     const cwd = tmpCwd("pi-resumed-entry-id-");
     const firstPrompt = "PASEO_PI_ENTRY_ID_FIRST. Reply exactly: first-ok";
@@ -665,12 +665,7 @@ test(
         const firstFinish = await client.waitForFinish(agent.id, PI_TEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
         expect(firstFinish.status).toBe("idle");
 
-        const collection = await daemon.daemon.agentManager.collectIdleAgents({
-          cutoff: new Date(Date.now() + 1_000),
-          protectedAgentIds: new Set(),
-        });
-        expect(collection.failures).toEqual([]);
-        expect(collection.collected.map((entry) => entry.agentId)).toContain(agent.id);
+        await daemon.daemon.agentManager.closeAgent(agent.id);
 
         await client.sendMessage(agent.id, secondPrompt);
         const secondFinish = await client.waitForFinish(agent.id, PI_TEST_TIMEOUT_MS);
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.test.ts
index b713641e0..a7fad87be 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.test.ts
@@ -376,47 +376,6 @@ describe("ScheduleService", () => {
     expect(resumed.nextRunAt).toBe("2026-01-01T00:04:00.000Z");
   });
 
-  test("lists only active schedules that target existing agents", async () => {
-    const service = createScheduleService({
-      paseoHome: tempDir,
-      logger: createTestLogger(),
-      agentManager: new AgentManager({ logger: createTestLogger() }),
-      agentStorage,
-      providerSnapshotManager: NO_UNATTENDED_SCHEDULE_POLICY,
-      now: () => now,
-      runner: async () => ({ agentId: null, output: "ok" }),
-    });
-    const activeAgentId = "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000201";
-    const pausedAgentId = "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000202";
-    const completedAgentId = "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000203";
-    const cadence = { type: "every" as const, everyMs: 60_000 };
-
-    await service.create({
-      prompt: "Keep active agent resident",
-      cadence,
-      target: { type: "agent", agentId: activeAgentId },
-    });
-    const paused = await service.create({
-      prompt: "Paused heartbeat",
-      cadence,
-      target: { type: "agent", agentId: pausedAgentId },
-    });
-    await service.pause(paused.id);
-    await service.create({
-      prompt: "Completed heartbeat",
-      cadence,
-      target: { type: "agent", agentId: completedAgentId },
-    });
-    await service.completeForAgent(completedAgentId);
-    await service.create({
-      prompt: "Fresh agent each run",
-      cadence,
-      target: { type: "new-agent", config: { provider: "claude", cwd: tempDir } },
-    });
-
-    await expect(service.listActiveAgentTargetIds()).resolves.toEqual(new Set([activeAgentId]));
-  });
-
   test("completes schedules when max runs is reached", async () => {
     const service = createScheduleService({
       paseoHome: tempDir,
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.ts b/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.ts
index 6bcaed724..6a650ac92 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/schedule/service.ts
@@ -204,7 +204,6 @@ type ScheduleAgentManager = Pick<
   | "hydrateTimelineFromProvider"
   | "resumeAgentFromPersistence"
   | "runAgent"
-  | "touchAgentActivity"
   | "waitForAgentEvent"
   | "waitForAgentClose"
 >;
@@ -370,17 +369,6 @@ export class ScheduleService {
     return this.store.list();
   }
 
-  async listActiveAgentTargetIds(): Promise<Set<string>> {
-    const schedules = await this.store.list();
-    const agentIds = new Set<string>();
-    for (const schedule of schedules) {
-      if (schedule.status === "active" && schedule.target.type === "agent") {
-        agentIds.add(schedule.target.agentId);
-      }
-    }
-    return agentIds;
-  }
-
   async inspect(id: string): Promise<StoredSchedule> {
     const schedule = await this.store.get(id);
     if (!schedule) {
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/session.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/session.test.ts
index 53ec923a8..9b9701ecb 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/session.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/session.test.ts
@@ -4906,7 +4906,7 @@ describe("agent config setters", () => {
   } {
     return {
       waitForAgentClose: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
-      touchAgentActivity: vi.fn(() => ({ id: "agent-1" })),
+      getAgent: vi.fn(() => ({ id: "agent-1" })),
       ...overrides,
     };
   }
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.test.ts b/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.test.ts
index d0e14519a..f6d35a1f3 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.test.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ describe("AgentConfigSession", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  test("set mode: a failed load rejects without mutating the collected agent", async () => {
+  test("set mode: a failed load rejects without mutating the closed agent", async () => {
     const { subsystem, emitted, operations } = makeSubsystem();
     operations.loadFailure = new Error("agent is archived");
 
diff --git a/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.ts b/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.ts
index 1cd39856a..dab811b98 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/server/session/agent-config/agent-config-session.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ export interface AgentConfigSessionHost {
 
 /**
  * The per-agent config mutations this subsystem drives. The shell adapts these
- * onto the AgentManager and loads a collected agent before mutation (mode still
+ * onto the AgentManager and loads a closed agent before mutation (mode still
  * routes through setAgentModeCommand); tests wire an in-memory fake. Mode and
  * thinking yield a provider notice; model and feature do not.
  */