diff --git a/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/__tests__/evolver.test.ts b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/__tests__/evolver.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..31dd7abef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/__tests__/evolver.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from "vitest";
+import { SkillEvolver } from "../evolver";
+import type { SqliteStore } from "../../storage/sqlite";
+import type { RecallEngine } from "../../recall/engine";
+import type { PluginContext, Skill } from "../../types";
+
+describe("SkillEvolver - autoInstall configuration", () => {
+  let mockStore: SqliteStore;
+  let mockEngine: RecallEngine;
+  let mockContext: PluginContext;
+  let evolver: SkillEvolver;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    mockStore = {
+      getSkill: vi.fn(),
+      updateSkill: vi.fn(),
+      setTaskSkillMeta: vi.fn(),
+      getTasksBySkillStatus: vi.fn(() => []),
+      getChunksByTask: vi.fn(() => []),
+      setChunkSkillId: vi.fn(),
+    } as any;
+
+    mockEngine = {} as RecallEngine;
+
+    mockContext = {
+      workspaceDir: "/tmp/test-workspace",
+      config: {},
+      log: {
+        info: vi.fn(),
+        debug: vi.fn(),
+        error: vi.fn(),
+      },
+    } as any;
+
+    evolver = new SkillEvolver(mockStore, mockEngine, mockContext);
+  });
+
+  it("should NOT auto-install when autoInstall is false, even for install_recommended skills", () => {
+    // Setup: autoInstall explicitly disabled
+    mockContext.config.skillEvolution = {
+      enabled: true,
+      autoInstall: false,
+    };
+
+    // Create a skill that would trigger install_recommended
+    // (≥3 scripts, >20KB total size)
+    const skill: Skill = {
+      id: "test-skill-1",
+      name: "test-skill",
+      status: "active",
+      version: 1,
+      dirPath: "/tmp/skills/test-skill",
+      installed: 0,
+      description: "Test skill with many companion files",
+      chunks: 10,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    };
+
+    // Mock the installer's install method
+    const installSpy = vi.fn();
+    (evolver as any).installer = {
+      install: installSpy,
+    };
+
+    // Call autoInstallIfNeeded
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Assert: install should NOT be called when autoInstall is false
+    expect(installSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("should auto-install when autoInstall is true", () => {
+    // Setup: autoInstall enabled
+    mockContext.config.skillEvolution = {
+      enabled: true,
+      autoInstall: true,
+    };
+
+    const skill: Skill = {
+      id: "test-skill-2",
+      name: "test-skill-2",
+      status: "active",
+      version: 1,
+      dirPath: "/tmp/skills/test-skill-2",
+      installed: 0,
+      description: "Test skill",
+      chunks: 5,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    };
+
+    const installSpy = vi.fn();
+    (evolver as any).installer = {
+      install: installSpy,
+    };
+
+    // Call autoInstallIfNeeded
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Assert: install should be called when autoInstall is true
+    expect(installSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("test-skill-2");
+  });
+
+  it("should NOT auto-install when skill status is not active", () => {
+    mockContext.config.skillEvolution = {
+      enabled: true,
+      autoInstall: true,
+    };
+
+    const skill: Skill = {
+      id: "test-skill-3",
+      name: "test-skill-3",
+      status: "draft",
+      version: 1,
+      dirPath: "/tmp/skills/test-skill-3",
+      installed: 0,
+      description: "Draft skill",
+      chunks: 5,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    };
+
+    const installSpy = vi.fn();
+    (evolver as any).installer = {
+      install: installSpy,
+    };
+
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Assert: install should NOT be called for non-active skills
+    expect(installSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/evolver.ts b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/evolver.ts
index 42516e8b0..fc8d319cf 100644
--- a/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/evolver.ts
+++ b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/src/skill/evolver.ts
@@ -370,17 +370,14 @@ Use selectedIndex 0 when none is highly relevant.`;
     if (skill.status !== "active") return;
 
     const explicitAutoInstall = this.ctx.config.skillEvolution?.autoInstall ?? DEFAULTS.skillAutoInstall;
-    if (explicitAutoInstall) {
-      this.installer.install(skill.id);
-      this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (explicit autoInstall=true)`);
+    if (!explicitAutoInstall) {
+      this.ctx.log.debug(`SkillEvolver: skipping auto-install for "${skill.name}" (autoInstall=false)`);
       return;
     }
 
+    this.installer.install(skill.id);
     const manifest = SkillInstaller.buildManifest(skill.dirPath, !!skill.installed, skill.name);
-    if (manifest.installMode === "install_recommended") {
-      this.installer.install(skill.id);
-      this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (install_recommended: ${manifest.scriptsCount} scripts, ${Math.round(manifest.totalSize / 1024)}KB)`);
-    }
+    this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (autoInstall=true, mode=${manifest.installMode}, ${manifest.scriptsCount} scripts, ${Math.round(manifest.totalSize / 1024)}KB)`);
   }
 
   private readSkillContent(skill: Skill): string | null {
diff --git a/apps/memos-local-openclaw/tests/skill-auto-install.test.ts b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/tests/skill-auto-install.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6fdbb19f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/memos-local-openclaw/tests/skill-auto-install.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, afterEach } from "vitest";
+import * as fs from "fs";
+import * as os from "os";
+import * as path from "path";
+import { SqliteStore } from "../src/storage/sqlite";
+import { SkillEvolver } from "../src/skill/evolver";
+import { RecallEngine } from "../src/recall/engine";
+import type { Logger, PluginContext, MemosLocalConfig, Task } from "../src/types";
+
+const noopLog: Logger = {
+  debug: () => {},
+  info: () => {},
+  warn: () => {},
+  error: () => {},
+};
+
+let tmpDir: string;
+let store: SqliteStore;
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  tmpDir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "memos-autoinstall-"));
+  const dbPath = path.join(tmpDir, "memos.db");
+  store = new SqliteStore(dbPath, noopLog);
+});
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  store.close();
+  fs.rmSync(tmpDir, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+
+describe("SkillEvolver autoInstall behavior", () => {
+  it("should NOT auto-install install_recommended skills when autoInstall=false", async () => {
+    const ctx: PluginContext = {
+      stateDir: tmpDir,
+      workspaceDir: tmpDir,
+      config: {
+        skillEvolution: {
+          enabled: true,
+          autoInstall: false,
+          autoEvaluate: false,
+        },
+      } as MemosLocalConfig,
+      log: noopLog,
+    };
+
+    // Create a skill with install_recommended characteristics (3+ scripts)
+    const skillDir = path.join(tmpDir, "skills-repo", "deploy-automation");
+    const scriptsDir = path.join(skillDir, "scripts");
+    fs.mkdirSync(scriptsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(skillDir, "SKILL.md"), `---
+name: "deploy-automation"
+description: "Automated deployment scripts"
+version: 1
+---
+
+## Steps
+1. Run deploy scripts
+`, "utf-8");
+
+    // Create 3 scripts to trigger install_recommended
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "deploy.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho deploy", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "rollback.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho rollback", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "health-check.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho check", "utf-8");
+
+    const skillId = "deploy-automation-001";
+    store.insertSkill({
+      id: skillId,
+      name: "deploy-automation",
+      description: "Automated deployment",
+      version: 1,
+      status: "active",
+      tags: "",
+      sourceType: "task",
+      dirPath: skillDir,
+      installed: 0,
+      owner: "agent:main",
+      visibility: "private",
+      qualityScore: 8,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    });
+
+    const engine = new RecallEngine(store, ctx);
+    const evolver = new SkillEvolver(store, engine, ctx);
+
+    // Trigger the private autoInstallIfNeeded through reflection
+    const skill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    expect(skill).not.toBeNull();
+
+    // Use type assertion to access private method for testing
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Verify the skill was NOT installed
+    const updatedSkill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    expect(updatedSkill?.installed).toBe(0);
+
+    const workspaceSkillDir = path.join(tmpDir, "skills", "deploy-automation");
+    expect(fs.existsSync(workspaceSkillDir)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("should auto-install install_recommended skills when autoInstall=true", async () => {
+    const ctx: PluginContext = {
+      stateDir: tmpDir,
+      workspaceDir: tmpDir,
+      config: {
+        skillEvolution: {
+          enabled: true,
+          autoInstall: true,
+          autoEvaluate: false,
+        },
+      } as MemosLocalConfig,
+      log: noopLog,
+    };
+
+    // Create a skill with install_recommended characteristics
+    const skillDir = path.join(tmpDir, "skills-repo", "build-tools");
+    const scriptsDir = path.join(skillDir, "scripts");
+    fs.mkdirSync(scriptsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(skillDir, "SKILL.md"), `---
+name: "build-tools"
+description: "Build automation tools"
+version: 1
+---
+
+## Steps
+1. Run build scripts
+`, "utf-8");
+
+    // Create 3 scripts to trigger install_recommended
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "build.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho build", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "test.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho test", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "package.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho package", "utf-8");
+
+    const skillId = "build-tools-001";
+    store.insertSkill({
+      id: skillId,
+      name: "build-tools",
+      description: "Build automation",
+      version: 1,
+      status: "active",
+      tags: "",
+      sourceType: "task",
+      dirPath: skillDir,
+      installed: 0,
+      owner: "agent:main",
+      visibility: "private",
+      qualityScore: 8,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    });
+
+    const engine = new RecallEngine(store, ctx);
+    const evolver = new SkillEvolver(store, engine, ctx);
+
+    const skill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    expect(skill).not.toBeNull();
+
+    // Use type assertion to access private method for testing
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Verify the skill WAS installed
+    const updatedSkill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    expect(updatedSkill?.installed).toBe(1);
+
+    const workspaceSkillDir = path.join(tmpDir, "skills", "build-tools");
+    expect(fs.existsSync(workspaceSkillDir)).toBe(true);
+    expect(fs.existsSync(path.join(workspaceSkillDir, "scripts", "build.sh"))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("should respect default autoInstall=true when config is not specified", async () => {
+    const ctx: PluginContext = {
+      stateDir: tmpDir,
+      workspaceDir: tmpDir,
+      config: {
+        skillEvolution: {
+          enabled: true,
+          // autoInstall not specified, should default to true
+        },
+      } as MemosLocalConfig,
+      log: noopLog,
+    };
+
+    const skillDir = path.join(tmpDir, "skills-repo", "default-test");
+    const scriptsDir = path.join(skillDir, "scripts");
+    fs.mkdirSync(scriptsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(skillDir, "SKILL.md"), `---
+name: "default-test"
+description: "Test default behavior"
+version: 1
+---
+
+## Steps
+1. Test
+`, "utf-8");
+
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "script1.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho 1", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "script2.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho 2", "utf-8");
+    fs.writeFileSync(path.join(scriptsDir, "script3.sh"), "#!/bin/bash\necho 3", "utf-8");
+
+    const skillId = "default-test-001";
+    store.insertSkill({
+      id: skillId,
+      name: "default-test",
+      description: "Default test",
+      version: 1,
+      status: "active",
+      tags: "",
+      sourceType: "task",
+      dirPath: skillDir,
+      installed: 0,
+      owner: "agent:main",
+      visibility: "private",
+      qualityScore: 8,
+      createdAt: Date.now(),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    });
+
+    const engine = new RecallEngine(store, ctx);
+    const evolver = new SkillEvolver(store, engine, ctx);
+
+    const skill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    (evolver as any).autoInstallIfNeeded(skill);
+
+    // Should be installed by default
+    const updatedSkill = store.getSkill(skillId);
+    expect(updatedSkill?.installed).toBe(1);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/memos-core/src/skill/evolver.ts b/packages/memos-core/src/skill/evolver.ts
index 42516e8b0..495728918 100644
--- a/packages/memos-core/src/skill/evolver.ts
+++ b/packages/memos-core/src/skill/evolver.ts
@@ -370,17 +370,13 @@ Use selectedIndex 0 when none is highly relevant.`;
     if (skill.status !== "active") return;
 
     const explicitAutoInstall = this.ctx.config.skillEvolution?.autoInstall ?? DEFAULTS.skillAutoInstall;
-    if (explicitAutoInstall) {
-      this.installer.install(skill.id);
-      this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (explicit autoInstall=true)`);
+    if (!explicitAutoInstall) {
+      this.ctx.log.debug(`SkillEvolver: skipping auto-install for "${skill.name}" (autoInstall=false)`);
       return;
     }
 
-    const manifest = SkillInstaller.buildManifest(skill.dirPath, !!skill.installed, skill.name);
-    if (manifest.installMode === "install_recommended") {
-      this.installer.install(skill.id);
-      this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (install_recommended: ${manifest.scriptsCount} scripts, ${Math.round(manifest.totalSize / 1024)}KB)`);
-    }
+    this.installer.install(skill.id);
+    this.ctx.log.info(`SkillEvolver: auto-installed "${skill.name}" (autoInstall=true)`);
   }
 
   private readSkillContent(skill: Skill): string | null {