diff --git a/.github/workflows/AGENTS.md b/.github/workflows/AGENTS.md
index 49cba15..50d129c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/AGENTS.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/AGENTS.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
   - `x86_64-apple-darwin`
   - `aarch64-apple-darwin`
   - `x86_64-pc-windows-msvc`
+- Use only supported runner labels; avoid deprecated/unsupported macOS labels (for example `macos-13` if unavailable in project settings).
+- Smoke-test binaries only on native runner/target pairs.
+- Do not execute cross-built `linux-aarch64` artifacts on `ubuntu-latest` x86 runners; this must be skipped (exec format mismatch).
+- When `x86_64-apple-darwin` is built on Apple Silicon runners, skip smoke execution unless a native Intel runner is configured.
 - Keep binary naming stable in packaged archives:
   - Unix: `clawdentity`
   - Windows: `clawdentity.exe`
@@ -27,9 +31,10 @@
 - Keep release uploads idempotent (`overwrite_files` / clobber-safe behavior) so reruns replace assets cleanly.
 
 ## Rust Crate Publish Rules
-- Resolve next version from crates.io and bump both crate manifests consistently:
+- Resolve next version from crates metadata using `cargo info` and bump both crate manifests consistently:
   - `crates/clawdentity-core/Cargo.toml`
   - `crates/clawdentity-cli/Cargo.toml`
+- Do not call crates.io API endpoints directly from release automation; use Cargo registry/index access paths.
 - Keep `clawdentity-cli` dependency on `clawdentity-core` version-locked to the same release version before publish.
 - Publish order is strict:
   - first `clawdentity-core`
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml b/.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml
index d040fd2..4fcbca8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
+      - name: Set up Rust toolchain
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
       - name: Validate required secrets
         env:
           CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CARGO_REGISTRY_TOKEN }}
@@ -60,15 +63,24 @@ jobs:
           set -euo pipefail
 
           RELEASE_TYPE="${{ inputs.release_type }}"
-          STATUS_CODE="$(curl -sS -o /tmp/core-crate.json -w '%{http_code}' https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/clawdentity-core)"
-          if [[ "${STATUS_CODE}" == "200" ]]; then
-            CURRENT_VERSION="$(jq -r '.crate.max_version // empty' /tmp/core-crate.json)"
-          elif [[ "${STATUS_CODE}" == "404" ]]; then
-            CURRENT_VERSION="0.0.0"
+          if CARGO_TERM_COLOR=never cargo info clawdentity-core --registry crates-io >/tmp/core-info.out 2>/tmp/core-info.err; then
+            CURRENT_VERSION="$(
+              sed -E 's/\x1B\[[0-9;]*[mK]//g' /tmp/core-info.out \
+                | awk -F': ' '/^version: / {print $2; exit}'
+            )"
+            if [[ -z "${CURRENT_VERSION}" ]]; then
+              echo "Unable to parse version from cargo info output."
+              cat /tmp/core-info.out
+              exit 1
+            fi
           else
-            echo "Failed to resolve current version from crates.io (status: ${STATUS_CODE})"
-            cat /tmp/core-crate.json
-            exit 1
+            if grep -Fq 'could not find `clawdentity-core`' /tmp/core-info.err; then
+              CURRENT_VERSION="0.0.0"
+            else
+              echo "Failed to resolve current version from crates.io registry index."
+              cat /tmp/core-info.err
+              exit 1
+            fi
           fi
 
           if [[ ! "${CURRENT_VERSION}" =~ ^([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+)\.([0-9]+)$ ]]; then
@@ -121,15 +133,18 @@ jobs:
           NEXT_VERSION="${{ steps.version.outputs.next_version }}"
 
           for CRATE in clawdentity-core clawdentity-cli; do
-            STATUS_CODE="$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' "https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/${CRATE}/${NEXT_VERSION}")"
-            if [[ "${STATUS_CODE}" == "200" ]]; then
+            if CARGO_TERM_COLOR=never cargo info "${CRATE}@${NEXT_VERSION}" --registry crates-io >/tmp/"${CRATE}".out 2>/tmp/"${CRATE}".err; then
               echo "${CRATE} ${NEXT_VERSION} already exists on crates.io"
               exit 1
             fi
-            if [[ "${STATUS_CODE}" != "404" ]]; then
-              echo "Unexpected crates.io status for ${CRATE} ${NEXT_VERSION}: ${STATUS_CODE}"
-              exit 1
+
+            if grep -Fq "could not find \`${CRATE}@${NEXT_VERSION}\`" /tmp/"${CRATE}".err; then
+              continue
             fi
+
+            echo "Unexpected error while checking ${CRATE}@${NEXT_VERSION}."
+            cat /tmp/"${CRATE}".err
+            exit 1
           done
 
   publish:
@@ -218,12 +233,17 @@ jobs:
           SLEEP_SECONDS=10
 
           for ((i = 1; i <= ATTEMPTS; i++)); do
-            STATUS_CODE="$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w '%{http_code}' "https://crates.io/api/v1/crates/clawdentity-core/${VERSION}")"
-            if [[ "${STATUS_CODE}" == "200" ]]; then
+            if CARGO_TERM_COLOR=never cargo info "clawdentity-core@${VERSION}" --registry crates-io >/tmp/core-propagation.out 2>/tmp/core-propagation.err; then
               echo "clawdentity-core ${VERSION} is available on crates.io"
               exit 0
             fi
 
+            if ! grep -Fq "could not find \`clawdentity-core@${VERSION}\`" /tmp/core-propagation.err; then
+              echo "Unexpected error while waiting for clawdentity-core ${VERSION}."
+              cat /tmp/core-propagation.err
+              exit 1
+            fi
+
             echo "Waiting for clawdentity-core ${VERSION} propagation (${i}/${ATTEMPTS})"
             sleep "${SLEEP_SECONDS}"
           done
@@ -248,26 +268,31 @@ jobs:
             target: x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu
             archive_ext: tar.gz
             use_cross: "false"
+            smoke_test: "true"
           - os: ubuntu-latest
             platform: linux-aarch64
             target: aarch64-unknown-linux-gnu
             archive_ext: tar.gz
             use_cross: "true"
-          - os: macos-13
+            smoke_test: "false"
+          - os: macos-14
             platform: macos-x86_64
             target: x86_64-apple-darwin
             archive_ext: tar.gz
             use_cross: "false"
+            smoke_test: "false"
           - os: macos-14
             platform: macos-aarch64
             target: aarch64-apple-darwin
             archive_ext: tar.gz
             use_cross: "false"
+            smoke_test: "true"
           - os: windows-latest
             platform: windows-x86_64
             target: x86_64-pc-windows-msvc
             archive_ext: zip
             use_cross: "false"
+            smoke_test: "true"
     steps:
       - name: Checkout release tag
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -304,8 +329,9 @@ jobs:
               --target "${{ matrix.target }}"
           fi
 
+      # only execute smoke tests when runner architecture matches target architecture
       - name: Smoke test binary (Unix)
-        if: runner.os != 'Windows'
+        if: runner.os != 'Windows' && matrix.smoke_test == 'true'
         shell: bash
         run: |
           set -euo pipefail
@@ -313,7 +339,7 @@ jobs:
           "${BIN}" --version
 
       - name: Smoke test binary (Windows)
-        if: runner.os == 'Windows'
+        if: runner.os == 'Windows' && matrix.smoke_test == 'true'
         shell: pwsh
         run: |
           $bin = "crates/target/${{ matrix.target }}/release/clawdentity-cli.exe"
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 02624e2..6f3af76 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Use `docs/` as system of record:
 
 ## 7) Release Automation
 - Keep Rust release automation in `.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml` as the single canonical path for version bump + crates.io publish + tag creation + binary release.
-- Rust crate publish flow must derive next version from crates.io and keep `clawdentity-core` / `clawdentity-cli` versions aligned.
+- Rust crate publish flow must derive the next version from crates metadata via `cargo info`, avoid direct crates.io API endpoint calls, verify the new `rust/vX.Y.Z` tag does not yet exist, and keep `clawdentity-core` / `clawdentity-cli` versions aligned.
 - Rust crate publish order is strict: publish `clawdentity-core` before `clawdentity-cli`.
 - Rust binary builds must use the same `rust/vX.Y.Z` tag created by the crate publish flow.
 - Rust binary releases must publish cross-platform assets for Windows x64, Linux x64/aarch64, and macOS x64/aarch64.
diff --git a/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/AGENTS.md b/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/AGENTS.md
index 78c2b80..ead4475 100644
--- a/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/AGENTS.md
+++ b/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/AGENTS.md
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@
   - `clawdentity skill install ...`
 - Keep onboarding invite prefix explicit: `clw_inv_...`.
 - Do not document manual registry/proxy host changes unless explicitly needed for a recovery scenario.
+- Keep CLI install guidance deterministic and fallback-safe:
+  - primary path: `rustup` + `cargo install --locked clawdentity-cli`
+  - optional deterministic pin: `cargo install --locked --version <version> clawdentity-cli`
+  - secondary path: direct GitHub release asset URLs with explicit platform naming (`linux-aarch64`, `linux-x86_64`, `macos-*`, `windows-x86_64`)
+  - treat `https://clawdentity.com/install.sh` as best-effort only; never as the only documented path
+  - avoid hardcoding specific release numbers in docs; use `<version>` placeholders unless a user explicitly asks for a pinned version
 
 ## Sync Rules
 - When `skill/SKILL.md` or `skill/references/*` changes, regenerate and sync CLI bundle:
diff --git a/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/SKILL.md b/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/SKILL.md
index 23d822b..c672e63 100644
--- a/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/SKILL.md
+++ b/apps/openclaw-skill/skill/SKILL.md
@@ -37,19 +37,53 @@ Do not instruct deprecated command groups that are not present in the Rust CLI:
 This skill assumes the Rust CLI executable (`clawdentity`) is already available on `PATH`.
 If it is missing, install it first.
 
-Preferred release binary flow:
-- Linux/macOS:
-  - Download `clawdentity-<version>-linux-x86_64.tar.gz`, `clawdentity-<version>-linux-aarch64.tar.gz`, `clawdentity-<version>-macos-x86_64.tar.gz`, or `clawdentity-<version>-macos-aarch64.tar.gz`
-  - Extract and place `clawdentity` in a `PATH` directory
-- Windows:
-  - Download `clawdentity-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip`
-  - Extract and place `clawdentity.exe` in a `PATH` directory
+Use this install order:
+
+1. Rust + crates.io (recommended)
+
+```bash
+curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh -s -- -y
+source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
+cargo install --locked clawdentity-cli
+clawdentity --version
+```
+
+Optional deterministic pin:
+
+```bash
+cargo install --locked --version <version> clawdentity-cli
+```
+
+2. Prebuilt release binary (if Rust toolchain is unavailable)
+- Release URL pattern:
+  - `https://github.com/vrknetha/clawdentity/releases/download/rust/v<version>/clawdentity-<version>-<platform>.tar.gz`
+  - `https://github.com/vrknetha/clawdentity/releases/download/rust/v<version>/clawdentity-<version>-windows-x86_64.zip`
+- Linux/macOS platforms:
+  - `linux-x86_64`
+  - `linux-aarch64`
+  - `macos-x86_64`
+  - `macos-aarch64`
+
+Linux `aarch64` example (`0.1.1`):
+
+```bash
+version="<version>"
+asset="clawdentity-${version}-linux-aarch64.tar.gz"
+url="https://github.com/vrknetha/clawdentity/releases/download/rust/v${version}/${asset}"
+
+mkdir -p "$HOME/bin" /tmp/clawdentity-bin
+curl -fL "$url" -o "/tmp/${asset}"
+tar -xzf "/tmp/${asset}" -C /tmp/clawdentity-bin
+install -m 0755 /tmp/clawdentity-bin/clawdentity "$HOME/bin/clawdentity"
+export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
+clawdentity --version
+```
 
 PowerShell example (Windows download/install via `irm`):
 
 ```powershell
-$tag = "rust/vX.Y.Z"
-$version = "X.Y.Z"
+$version = "<version>"
+$tag = "rust/v$version"
 $asset = "clawdentity-$version-windows-x86_64.zip"
 $url = "https://github.com/vrknetha/clawdentity/releases/download/$tag/$asset"
 
@@ -59,11 +93,9 @@ New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path "$HOME\\bin" | Out-Null
 Move-Item ".\\clawdentity-bin\\clawdentity.exe" "$HOME\\bin\\clawdentity.exe" -Force
 ```
 
-Cargo fallback (if prebuilt binary is unavailable):
-
-```bash
-cargo install --locked clawdentity-cli
-```
+3. Optional installer shortcut (best effort)
+- `https://clawdentity.com/install.sh`
+- If this returns CDN/proxy errors (for example HTTP 522), do not block onboarding. Use option 1 or 2 above.
 
 ## Tool Execution Contract (Agent)
 
diff --git a/crates/clawdentity-cli/Cargo.toml b/crates/clawdentity-cli/Cargo.toml
index bb44ac7..849dd7b 100644
--- a/crates/clawdentity-cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/clawdentity-cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "clawdentity-cli"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.1"
 edition.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true
 repository.workspace = true
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ readme = "../../README.md"
 [dependencies]
 anyhow.workspace = true
 clap.workspace = true
-clawdentity-core = { version = "0.1.0", path = "../clawdentity-core" }
+clawdentity-core = { version = "0.1.1", path = "../clawdentity-core" }
 reqwest = { version = "0.12.24", default-features = false, features = ["json", "rustls-tls"] }
 serde_json.workspace = true
 tokio = { version = "1.49.0", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "signal"] }
diff --git a/crates/clawdentity-core/Cargo.toml b/crates/clawdentity-core/Cargo.toml
index e47e7fb..fb53c8a 100644
--- a/crates/clawdentity-core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/clawdentity-core/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "clawdentity-core"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.1.1"
 edition.workspace = true
 license.workspace = true
 repository.workspace = true
diff --git a/docs/HARNESS_ACTION_PLAN.md b/docs/HARNESS_ACTION_PLAN.md
index 7692d9f..4b85973 100644
--- a/docs/HARNESS_ACTION_PLAN.md
+++ b/docs/HARNESS_ACTION_PLAN.md
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ tmux new-session -d -s codex-fix -c ../clawdentity-wt-fix/crates
 4. **Next week:** Phase 4 (agent-to-agent review)
 5. **Next week:** Phase 5 (garbage collection crons)
 6. **Ongoing:** Phase 6 (parallel worktrees as needed)
+7. **Release practice:** Keep `.github/workflows/publish-rust.yml` as the single source for Rust release automation, derive versions using `cargo info` metadata (not direct crates.io API calls), and verify duplicate tag creation before publishing.
 
 ## Success Metrics