diff --git a/docs/tools/exec.md b/docs/tools/exec.md
index f55435fbe..310008e35 100644
--- a/docs/tools/exec.md
+++ b/docs/tools/exec.md
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ Notes:
 - `tools.exec.node` (default: unset)
 - `tools.exec.pathPrepend`: list of directories to prepend to `PATH` for exec runs.
 - `tools.exec.safeBins`: stdin-only safe binaries that can run without explicit allowlist entries.
+- `tools.exec.pty` (default: false): enable PTY mode by default for exec commands. Useful when commands hang without a TTY. Ignored when sandboxed.
 
 Example:
 ```json5
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.pty.test.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.pty.test.ts
index 8ada2ecca..263e273bf 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.pty.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.pty.test.ts
@@ -18,3 +18,28 @@ test("exec supports pty output", async () => {
   const text = result.content?.[0]?.text ?? "";
   expect(text).toContain("ok");
 });
+
+test("exec uses pty when defaults.pty is true", async () => {
+  const tool = createExecTool({ allowBackground: false, pty: true });
+  // Note: pty is NOT passed in params - should use default
+  const result = await tool.execute("toolcall", {
+    command: 'node -e "process.stdout.write(String.fromCharCode(111,107))"',
+  });
+
+  expect(result.details.status).toBe("completed");
+  const text = result.content?.[0]?.text ?? "";
+  expect(text).toContain("ok");
+});
+
+test("exec params.pty overrides defaults.pty", async () => {
+  const tool = createExecTool({ allowBackground: false, pty: true });
+  // Explicitly set pty: false to override default
+  const result = await tool.execute("toolcall", {
+    command: "echo override",
+    pty: false,
+  });
+
+  expect(result.details.status).toBe("completed");
+  const text = result.content?.[0]?.text ?? "";
+  expect(text).toContain("override");
+});
diff --git a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.ts b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.ts
index ad77d10e6..a5e5bd9e9 100644
--- a/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.ts
+++ b/src/agents/bash-tools.exec.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ export type ExecToolDefaults = {
   messageProvider?: string;
   notifyOnExit?: boolean;
   cwd?: string;
+  pty?: boolean;
 };
 
 export type { BashSandboxConfig } from "./bash-tools.shared.js";
@@ -1295,7 +1296,7 @@ export function createExecTool(
                 env,
                 sandbox: undefined,
                 containerWorkdir: null,
-                usePty: params.pty === true && !sandbox,
+                usePty: (params.pty ?? defaults?.pty) === true && !sandbox,
                 warnings,
                 maxOutput,
                 pendingMaxOutput,
@@ -1381,7 +1382,7 @@ export function createExecTool(
       const effectiveTimeout =
         typeof params.timeout === "number" ? params.timeout : defaultTimeoutSec;
       const getWarningText = () => (warnings.length ? `${warnings.join("\n")}\n\n` : "");
-      const usePty = params.pty === true && !sandbox;
+      const usePty = (params.pty ?? defaults?.pty) === true && !sandbox;
       const run = await runExecProcess({
         command: params.command,
         workdir,
diff --git a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
index 802f1aced..4dd77e442 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-tools.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ function resolveExecConfig(cfg: OpenClawConfig | undefined) {
     approvalRunningNoticeMs: globalExec?.approvalRunningNoticeMs,
     cleanupMs: globalExec?.cleanupMs,
     notifyOnExit: globalExec?.notifyOnExit,
+    pty: globalExec?.pty,
     applyPatch: globalExec?.applyPatch,
   };
 }
@@ -269,6 +270,7 @@ export function createOpenClawCodingTools(options?: {
     approvalRunningNoticeMs:
       options?.exec?.approvalRunningNoticeMs ?? execConfig.approvalRunningNoticeMs,
     notifyOnExit: options?.exec?.notifyOnExit ?? execConfig.notifyOnExit,
+    pty: options?.exec?.pty ?? execConfig.pty,
     sandbox: sandbox
       ? {
           containerName: sandbox.containerName,
diff --git a/src/config/schema.ts b/src/config/schema.ts
index 1401b0574..3363954a5 100644
--- a/src/config/schema.ts
+++ b/src/config/schema.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,7 @@ const FIELD_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
   "tools.exec.node": "Exec Node Binding",
   "tools.exec.pathPrepend": "Exec PATH Prepend",
   "tools.exec.safeBins": "Exec Safe Bins",
+  "tools.exec.pty": "Exec PTY Mode",
   "tools.message.allowCrossContextSend": "Allow Cross-Context Messaging",
   "tools.message.crossContext.allowWithinProvider": "Allow Cross-Context (Same Provider)",
   "tools.message.crossContext.allowAcrossProviders": "Allow Cross-Context (Across Providers)",
@@ -421,6 +422,8 @@ const FIELD_HELP: Record<string, string> = {
   "tools.exec.pathPrepend": "Directories to prepend to PATH for exec runs (gateway/sandbox).",
   "tools.exec.safeBins":
     "Allow stdin-only safe binaries to run without explicit allowlist entries.",
+  "tools.exec.pty":
+    "Enable PTY mode by default for exec commands. Ignored when sandboxed. (default: false).",
   "tools.message.allowCrossContextSend":
     "Legacy override: allow cross-context sends across all providers.",
   "tools.message.crossContext.allowWithinProvider":
diff --git a/src/config/types.tools.ts b/src/config/types.tools.ts
index db32cb59d..cef370b91 100644
--- a/src/config/types.tools.ts
+++ b/src/config/types.tools.ts
@@ -183,6 +183,8 @@ export type ExecToolConfig = {
   cleanupMs?: number;
   /** Emit a system event and heartbeat when a backgrounded exec exits. */
   notifyOnExit?: boolean;
+  /** Enable PTY mode by default for exec commands (ignored when sandboxed). */
+  pty?: boolean;
   /** apply_patch subtool configuration (experimental). */
   applyPatch?: {
     /** Enable apply_patch for OpenAI models (default: false). */
diff --git a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
index 7e95c3538..d6b3bda31 100644
--- a/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
+++ b/src/config/zod-schema.agent-runtime.ts
@@ -271,6 +271,7 @@ export const AgentToolsSchema = z
         approvalRunningNoticeMs: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
         cleanupMs: z.number().int().positive().optional(),
         notifyOnExit: z.boolean().optional(),
+        pty: z.boolean().optional(),
         applyPatch: z
           .object({
             enabled: z.boolean().optional(),
@@ -512,6 +513,7 @@ export const ToolsSchema = z
         timeoutSec: z.number().int().positive().optional(),
         cleanupMs: z.number().int().positive().optional(),
         notifyOnExit: z.boolean().optional(),
+        pty: z.boolean().optional(),
         applyPatch: z
           .object({
             enabled: z.boolean().optional(),