fix(setup): record email unverified so onboarding works without SMTP

At bootstrap there is no SMTP, so the old /setup flow was unreachable: it
requested an emailed OTP that could never arrive. Setup now records the
Owner's email address unverified (no OTP round-trip) and requires a passkey,
deferring SMTP configuration to a later Settings page. Setup completes on
email-recorded + passkey-enrolled, and the lockdown lifts on the passkey, not
on email_verified: a passkey is the Owner's only pre-SMTP login credential
(email-OTP login refuses admin accounts).

The record-email endpoint (POST /account/email) now clears email_verified in
the same write. Only VerifyEmailOTP, which proves control of the address, may
set that flag; recording a fresh unproven address must never leave a stale
email_verified=true asserting a proof the user never gave. The change strictly
tightens the invariant, so no existing reader breaks.

Remove the dead ErrEmailTaken path and its documented 409: no migration puts a
unique index on users.email and the codebase does not enforce email
uniqueness, so the unique-violation branch was unreachable and the 409 an
impossible response.

The /setup route (Setup.tsx, setEmail helper, setup i18n copy) is rewritten to
match: record-email, mandatory passkey, no skip-for-now. The SMTP settings
page and post-setup configure-SMTP nudge are deferred.

docs/openapi.yaml

@@ -3317,6 +3317,46 @@ paths:
             application/json:
               schema: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error' }
 
+  /api/v1/account/email:
+    post:
+      tags: [account]
+      operationId: setEmail
+      summary: Record the caller's email WITHOUT verifying it (setup bootstrap, spec §B2).
+      description: >
+        Writes the supplied address to the authenticated principal's user row and
+        clears email_verified (already false for a fresh Owner). The setup bootstrap
+        has no SMTP, so the Owner cannot receive an emailed code; a later Settings/SMTP
+        flow proves control of the address via /account/email/verify.
+      x-felis-face: [external]
+      x-felis-tier: app
+      security: [{ accessJWT: [] }]
+      requestBody:
+        required: true
+        content:
+          application/json:
+            schema:
+              type: object
+              required: [email]
+              properties:
+                email: { type: string, format: email }
+      responses:
+        '200':
+          description: Email recorded (unverified).
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema:
+                type: object
+                required: [email]
+                properties:
+                  email: { type: string, format: email }
+        '400':
+          description: A valid email is required.
+          content:
+            application/json:
+              schema: { $ref: '#/components/schemas/Error' }
+        '401':
+          $ref: '#/components/responses/Unauthorized'
+
   /api/v1/account/passkey/register/begin:
     post:
       tags: [account]

internal/api/api.go

@@ -391,6 +391,10 @@ func (a *API) externalAPIRoutes() []apiRoute {
 		// email is an ordinary authenticated operation, scoped to the principal.
 		{Method: "POST", Pattern: "/api/v1/account/email/start", SetupAllowed: true, h: a.handleEmailOTPStart},
 		{Method: "POST", Pattern: "/api/v1/account/email/verify", SetupAllowed: true, h: a.handleEmailOTPVerify},
+		// Record-only email: the setup wizard's Step 1 stores the Owner's address
+		// UNVERIFIED (no SMTP at bootstrap ⇒ no code to mail). email_verified stays
+		// false until a later Settings/SMTP flow proves control via /email/verify above.
+		{Method: "POST", Pattern: "/api/v1/account/email", SetupAllowed: true, h: a.handleSetEmail},
 		// Passkey enrollment (spec §14 WebAuthn / Phase 6 bind), web side: /register/begin
 		// mints a credential-creation challenge for the caller, /register/finish verifies
 		// the authenticator's attestation and binds the passkey, and the credentials
@@ -522,7 +526,7 @@ func (a *API) buildFace(routes []apiRoute, guard func(http.Handler) http.Handler
 		// explicitly opts out. The wrapper is nil-principal safe, so it is inert on
 		// the internal face (service-token callers carry no Principal).
 		if !rt.SetupAllowed {
-			h = a.requireEmailVerified(h)
+			h = a.requireOnboarded(h)
 		}
 		auth.HandleFunc(pattern, h)
 	}
@@ -542,21 +546,32 @@ func (a *API) baseChain(h http.Handler) http.Handler {
 	return withRequestID(withRecover(h))
 }
 
-// requireEmailVerified fences an authenticated route behind the setup-lockdown:
-// a session whose EmailVerified is false (a freshly-onboarded principal that has
-// not yet proved control of its email) is restricted to SetupAllowed routes only.
-// The wrapper is nil-principal safe, so it is inert on the internal face
-// (service-token callers carry no Principal) and on the external face's admin
-// Zero-Trust paths (those carry an IsAdmin/IsOwner principal that has already
-// passed email verification at account creation).
-func (a *API) requireEmailVerified(h http.HandlerFunc) http.HandlerFunc {
+// requireOnboarded fences an authenticated route behind the setup-lockdown: a
+// freshly-onboarded principal that has not finished setup is restricted to
+// SetupAllowed routes only. The lockdown lifts on a durable login credential, NOT
+// on email verification: the bootstrap Owner has no verified email (no SMTP exists
+// at bootstrap) and a passkey is the ONLY credential that logs the Owner in
+// pre-SMTP (email-OTP login refuses admin accounts; op-login needs SMTP + a second
+// admin). So passkey enrollment is what completes setup — and it must, or the
+// unverified Owner could never reach the Settings page to configure SMTP.
+//
+// Only a session principal whose email is still unverified reaches the passkey
+// lookup; after setup that is just the bootstrap Owner, so the extra query is not
+// on any hot path. The wrapper is nil-principal safe, so it is inert on the
+// internal face (service-token callers carry no Principal) and on the external
+// face's admin Zero-Trust paths (those carry an IsAdmin/IsOwner principal that has
+// already passed email verification at account creation).
+func (a *API) requireOnboarded(h http.HandlerFunc) http.HandlerFunc {
 	return func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		p := principalFromContext(r.Context())
 		if p != nil && p.ViaSession && !p.EmailVerified {
+			creds, _ := a.Repo.PasskeyCredentialsForUser(r.Context(), p.UserID)
+			if len(creds) == 0 {
 				writeError(w, r, newError(http.StatusForbidden, "setup_required",
-				"email verification is required before this action is available"))
+					"passkey enrollment is required before this action is available"))
 				return
 			}
+		}
 		h(w, r)
 	}
 }

internal/api/api_test.go

@@ -359,6 +359,16 @@ func (f *fakeRepo) VerifyEmailOTP(_ context.Context, userID, purpose, codeHash s
 	}
 	return live.email, nil
 }
+func (f *fakeRepo) SetUserEmail(_ context.Context, userID, email string) error {
+	for _, u := range f.staff { // record + clear verified (proves nothing) — mirrors PGRepo
+		if u.ID == userID {
+			u.Email = email
+			u.EmailVerified = false
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return ErrNotFound
+}
 
 // CreatePasskeyChallenge / ConsumePasskeyChallengeByUser mirror PGRepo's contract so
 // the hermetic tests exercise the same semantics: a fresh begin supersedes ALL prior

internal/api/handlers_email_otp.go

@@ -230,6 +230,42 @@ func (a *API) deliverOTP(ctx context.Context, email, code string) error {
 	return a.Mailer.SendOTP(ctx, email, code)
 }
 
+// setEmailRequest is the record-email body: the address to bind to the caller's
+// account WITHOUT an OTP round-trip.
+type setEmailRequest struct {
+	Email string `json:"email"`
+}
+
+// handleSetEmail records the caller's email without verifying it (SetupAllowed). The
+// setup bootstrap has no SMTP, so the Owner cannot receive an emailed code; the
+// address is stored unverified and a later Settings/SMTP flow proves control of it.
+// This is the setup wizard's Step-1 write. The OTP start/verify pair above is left
+// intact for the Account page and for post-SMTP verification — this door deliberately
+// does NOT touch email_verified.
+func (a *API) handleSetEmail(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+	p := principalFromContext(r.Context())
+	if err := requireJSONContentType(r); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, r, err)
+		return
+	}
+	var req setEmailRequest
+	if err := decodeJSON(w, r, &req); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, r, err)
+		return
+	}
+	email := strings.TrimSpace(req.Email)
+	if !looksLikeEmail(email) {
+		writeError(w, r, newError(http.StatusBadRequest, "bad_request", "a valid email is required"))
+		return
+	}
+	if err := a.Repo.SetUserEmail(r.Context(), p.UserID, email); err != nil {
+		writeError(w, r, err)
+		return
+	}
+	a.audit(r, auditActor(p), "account.email.set", "")
+	writeJSON(w, http.StatusOK, map[string]any{"email": email})
+}
+
 // auditActor picks the most identifying actor string for a principal: the audited
 // Access email when present, else the stable user id. A player mid-onboarding may
 // not have a verified email yet, so the id keeps the audit row attributable.

internal/api/handlers_setup.go

@@ -104,7 +104,11 @@ func (a *API) handleSetupRedeem(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		"email":          u.Email,
 		"email_verified": u.EmailVerified,
 		"has_passkey":    hasPasskey,
-		"setup_required": !u.EmailVerified || !hasPasskey,
+		// Setup completes on email recorded + passkey enrolled. NOT email_verified:
+		// the bootstrap has no SMTP, so the Owner's address is stored unverified and a
+		// later Settings/SMTP flow verifies it. Passkey is the Owner's only pre-SMTP
+		// login credential, so it — not email verification — is the durable gate.
+		"setup_required": u.Email == "" || !hasPasskey,
 	})
 }
 
@@ -131,6 +135,10 @@ func (a *API) handleSetupStatus(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		"email":          u.Email,
 		"email_verified": u.EmailVerified,
 		"has_passkey":    hasPasskey,
-		"setup_required": !u.EmailVerified || !hasPasskey,
+		// Setup completes on email recorded + passkey enrolled. NOT email_verified:
+		// the bootstrap has no SMTP, so the Owner's address is stored unverified and a
+		// later Settings/SMTP flow verifies it. Passkey is the Owner's only pre-SMTP
+		// login credential, so it — not email verification — is the durable gate.
+		"setup_required": u.Email == "" || !hasPasskey,
 	})
 }

internal/api/handlers_setup_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package api
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// TestSetupNoSMTPFlow pins the no-SMTP onboarding contract: setup completes on email
+// RECORDED + passkey ENROLLED, never on email verification (the bootstrap has no SMTP,
+// so the Owner's address is stored unverified). The lockdown must therefore lift on a
+// passkey, not on email_verified — otherwise the unverified Owner could never leave the
+// wizard to reach the Settings/SMTP page.
+func TestSetupNoSMTPFlow(t *testing.T) {
+	repo := newFakeRepo()
+	// Fresh Owner: admin, no email, unverified, no passkey — exactly post-CompleteOwnerSetup.
+	repo.staff["owner"] = &StaffUser{ID: "o1", Username: "owner", Role: "admin"}
+
+	api := newTestAPI(repo, newFakeCluster())
+	// A lockdown session principal: authenticated by session, email not yet verified.
+	api.External = staticExternal{p: &Principal{UserID: "o1", Role: "admin", ViaSession: true}}
+	h := api.ExternalHandler()
+
+	status := func(t *testing.T) map[string]any {
+		t.Helper()
+		w := do(h, "GET", "/api/v1/auth/setup/status", "", nil)
+		if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+			t.Fatalf("status code = %d, want 200 (%s)", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+		}
+		var got map[string]any
+		if err := json.Unmarshal(w.Body.Bytes(), &got); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("status body not JSON: %v", err)
+		}
+		return got
+	}
+
+	// 1. Nothing done → setup required, no email, no passkey.
+	if s := status(t); s["setup_required"] != true || s["email"] != "" || s["has_passkey"] != false {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh owner status = %v, want setup_required=true email=\"\" has_passkey=false", s)
+	}
+
+	// 2. Record the email — NO OTP. The row is written but email_verified stays false.
+	w := do(h, "POST", "/api/v1/account/email", `{"email":"[email protected]"}`, jsonHeader)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("set-email code = %d, want 200 (%s)", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+	if u := repo.staff["owner"]; u.Email != "[email protected]" || u.EmailVerified {
+		t.Fatalf("after record: email=%q verified=%v, want the address recorded and UNVERIFIED", u.Email, u.EmailVerified)
+	}
+
+	// 3. Email recorded but no passkey → STILL required (email verification is not the gate).
+	if s := status(t); s["setup_required"] != true || s["email"] != "[email protected]" {
+		t.Fatalf("email-only status = %v, want setup_required=true (passkey still missing)", s)
+	}
+
+	// 4. The lockdown must still fence a non-SetupAllowed route: no passkey ⇒ 403 setup_required.
+	w = do(h, "POST", "/api/v1/me/submissions", `{}`, jsonHeader)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusForbidden || errCode(w.Body.Bytes()) != "setup_required" {
+		t.Fatalf("pre-passkey locked route: code=%d err=%q, want 403 setup_required (%s)", w.Code, errCode(w.Body.Bytes()), w.Body.String())
+	}
+
+	// 5. Enroll a passkey (the Owner's only pre-SMTP credential).
+	repo.passkeyCreds["pk1"] = PasskeyCredential{ID: "pk1", UserID: "o1", CredentialID: "cred1"}
+
+	// 6. Passkey present ⇒ setup complete AND the lockdown lifts (the route no longer 403s setup_required).
+	if s := status(t); s["setup_required"] != false || s["has_passkey"] != true {
+		t.Fatalf("post-passkey status = %v, want setup_required=false has_passkey=true", s)
+	}
+	w = do(h, "POST", "/api/v1/me/submissions", `{}`, jsonHeader)
+	if w.Code == http.StatusForbidden && errCode(w.Body.Bytes()) == "setup_required" {
+		t.Fatalf("post-passkey the lockdown did NOT lift: route still 403 setup_required")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestSetEmailClearsVerified pins the invariant that recording an unproven address
+// drops any prior verification: /account/email is app-tier + SetupAllowed, so any
+// authenticated session can reach it — an already-verified caller who changes their
+// address must NOT keep email_verified=true asserting a proof they never gave. Only
+// VerifyEmailOTP (which proves the address) may set that flag.
+func TestSetEmailClearsVerified(t *testing.T) {
+	repo := newFakeRepo()
+	// A fully onboarded staff account: email already proven.
+	repo.staff["u"] = &StaffUser{ID: "u1", Username: "u", Role: "admin", Email: "[email protected]", EmailVerified: true}
+
+	api := newTestAPI(repo, newFakeCluster())
+	api.External = staticExternal{p: &Principal{UserID: "u1", Role: "admin", ViaSession: true, EmailVerified: true}}
+	h := api.ExternalHandler()
+
+	w := do(h, "POST", "/api/v1/account/email", `{"email":"[email protected]"}`, jsonHeader)
+	if w.Code != http.StatusOK {
+		t.Fatalf("set-email code = %d, want 200 (%s)", w.Code, w.Body.String())
+	}
+	if u := repo.staff["u"]; u.Email != "[email protected]" || u.EmailVerified {
+		t.Fatalf("after record: email=%q verified=%v, want new address recorded and verification CLEARED", u.Email, u.EmailVerified)
+	}
+}
+
+// errCode returns the error.code of a JSON error body, or "" if body is not one (a
+// non-failing decodeErr for cases where the response may be a success).
+func errCode(body []byte) string {
+	var raw map[string]map[string]string
+	if json.Unmarshal(body, &raw) != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return raw["error"]["code"]
+}

internal/api/pgrepo.go

@@ -737,6 +737,29 @@ func (p *PGRepo) VerifyEmailOTP(ctx context.Context, userID, purpose, codeHash s
 	return email, nil
 }
 
+// SetUserEmail records email on the user row WITHOUT verifying it (setup bootstrap
+// has no SMTP — the Owner enters an address a later Settings/SMTP flow will verify).
+// It clears email_verified in the same write: only VerifyEmailOTP ever sets that
+// flag, and it does so only alongside the proven address, so recording a fresh
+// (unproven) address must drop any prior verification rather than leave a stale
+// email_verified=true asserting an address the user never proved. For a fresh Owner
+// the flag is already false, so this is a no-op there.
+func (p *PGRepo) SetUserEmail(ctx context.Context, userID, email string) error {
+	res, err := p.db.ExecContext(ctx,
+		`UPDATE users SET email = $2, email_verified = false WHERE id = $1`, userID, email)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	n, err := res.RowsAffected()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if n == 0 {
+		return ErrNotFound
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ---- player game-login: username-collision reclaim (spec §B3) ----
 
 // ReclaimUsername bars the squatter UUID and stashes its data hold in one

internal/api/repo.go

@@ -310,6 +310,13 @@ type Repo interface {
 	// becomes proven, so the write is load-bearing. The pre-session LOGIN door must
 	// NOT use it — see ConsumeLoginEmailOTP.
 	VerifyEmailOTP(ctx context.Context, userID, purpose, codeHash string, now time.Time) (email string, err error)
+	// SetUserEmail records email on the user row WITHOUT proving control of it, and
+	// clears email_verified in the same write (proving nothing, it must never leave a
+	// stale verified flag — see the PGRepo impl). This backs the setup wizard's Step 1:
+	// the bootstrap has no SMTP, so the Owner cannot receive an emailed code, and the
+	// address is stored unverified for a later Settings/SMTP flow to verify. An unknown
+	// userID returns ErrNotFound.
+	SetUserEmail(ctx context.Context, userID, email string) error
 	// ConsumeLoginEmailOTP redeems the newest live code for (userID, purpose) against
 	// codeHash for the PRE-SESSION email LOGIN door, with the SAME code lifecycle as
 	// VerifyEmailOTP (FOR UPDATE, expiry+lockout before hash compare, mismatch charges

panel/src/i18n/resources/en-US/auth.json

@@ -47,15 +47,12 @@
   "setup_invalid_hint_prefix": "Re-run ",
   "setup_invalid_hint_suffix": " on the server to get a fresh setup link, or head to the sign-in page.",
   "setup_goto_login": "Go to sign in",
-  "setup_email_step": "Step 1 · Verify email",
-  "setup_email_desc": "We'll email you a code — it recovers your account and is the fallback sign-in when a passkey isn't available.",
-  "setup_otp_sent": "Code sent to {{email}}",
-  "setup_verify_continue": "Verify & continue",
-  "setup_change_email": "Change email / resend",
+  "setup_email_step": "Step 1 · Add your email",
+  "setup_email_desc": "We'll save this address for your account. You can configure email delivery (SMTP) and verify it later from Settings — it isn't required to finish setup.",
+  "setup_email_save": "Save & continue",
   "setup_passkey_step": "Step 2 · Register a passkey",
-  "setup_passkey_desc": "Create a passkey with your fingerprint, face, or device PIN as your primary way to sign in; the email code is the fallback.",
+  "setup_passkey_desc": "Create a passkey with your fingerprint, face, or device PIN. It's how you'll sign in to the console — required to finish setup.",
   "setup_create_passkey": "Create passkey",
   "setup_registering": "Registering…",
-  "setup_skip": "Skip for now — go to the console",
   "setup_default_passkey_name": "Default passkey"
 }

panel/src/i18n/resources/zh-CN/auth.json

@@ -47,15 +47,12 @@
   "setup_invalid_hint_prefix": "请在服务器上重新运行 ",
   "setup_invalid_hint_suffix": " 获取新的设置链接，或直接前往登录页。",
   "setup_goto_login": "前往登录",
-  "setup_email_step": "第一步 · 验证邮箱",
-  "setup_email_desc": "我们会向你的邮箱发送验证码，用于找回账户，也是通行密钥不可用时的备用登录方式。",
-  "setup_otp_sent": "验证码已发送至 {{email}}",
-  "setup_verify_continue": "验证并继续",
-  "setup_change_email": "换个邮箱 / 重新发送",
+  "setup_email_step": "第一步 · 填写邮箱",
+  "setup_email_desc": "我们会为你的账户保存这个邮箱地址。发信服务（SMTP）和邮箱验证可稍后在设置中配置——完成初始化并不需要它。",
+  "setup_email_save": "保存并继续",
   "setup_passkey_step": "第二步 · 注册通行密钥",
-  "setup_passkey_desc": "使用指纹、面容或设备 PIN 创建一个通行密钥，作为你登录控制台的主要方式；邮箱验证码是备用方式。",
+  "setup_passkey_desc": "使用指纹、面容或设备 PIN 创建一个通行密钥，这将是你登录控制台的方式——完成初始化必须注册。",
   "setup_create_passkey": "创建通行密钥",
   "setup_registering": "注册中…",
-  "setup_skip": "暂时跳过，直接进入控制台",
   "setup_default_passkey_name": "默认通行密钥"
 }

panel/src/lib/api.ts

@@ -351,6 +351,12 @@ export const api = {
   emailVerify: (code: string) =>
     request<{ verified: boolean; email: string }>("POST", "/account/email/verify", { code }),
 
+  // setEmail records the caller's address WITHOUT an OTP round-trip (the setup
+  // wizard's Step 1). The bootstrap has no SMTP, so email_verified stays false; a
+  // later Settings/SMTP flow verifies it via emailStart/emailVerify.
+  setEmail: (email: string) =>
+    request<{ email: string }>("POST", "/account/email", { email }),
+
   passkeyRegisterBegin: () =>
     request<any>("POST", "/account/passkey/register/begin"),
 

panel/src/pages/Setup.tsx

@@ -15,15 +15,17 @@ import { useTier } from "@/lib/tier";
 // `felis setup` MC-bind flow prints https://op.console.<root>/setup?token=<raw> —
 // the Owner is staff, so onboarding lands on the operator console, not the player
 // panel; this page redeems that one-time token (minting a lockdown session), then drives the
-// two remaining steps — verify email, enroll a passkey — before handing off to the
+// two remaining steps — record an email, enroll a passkey — before handing off to the
 // dashboard. It sits OUTSIDE RequireAuth (like /login): the visitor arrives without
 // a session, and the redeem is what creates one.
 //
-// Reload-safe: the token is single-use, so a refresh mid-wizard re-reads progress
-// from /auth/setup/status (the surviving session) rather than dead-ending on a
-// spent token. The two step endpoints and /me are all SetupAllowed, so the lockdown
-// session can complete the wizard; the backend lifts the lockdown once email is
-// verified, and we hand off to / once nothing remains.
+// The email is only RECORDED, not verified: the bootstrap has no SMTP, so there is no
+// code to mail. Passkey is the Owner's only pre-SMTP login credential and is
+// mandatory. Reload-safe: the token is single-use, so a refresh mid-wizard re-reads
+// progress from /auth/setup/status (the surviving session) rather than dead-ending on
+// a spent token. The step endpoints and /me are all SetupAllowed, so the lockdown
+// session can complete the wizard; the backend lifts the lockdown once a passkey is
+// enrolled, and we hand off to / once nothing remains.
 export function Setup() {
   const [params] = useSearchParams();
   const navigate = useNavigate();
@@ -76,8 +78,7 @@ export function Setup() {
   }, []);
 
   // finish re-reads /me (so RequireAuth sees the authenticated session) and hands
-  // off to the dashboard. Idempotent — a completion effect and the skip button can
-  // both reach here.
+  // off to the dashboard. Idempotent — guarded so the completion effect fires once.
   const finish = useCallback(async () => {
     if (finishing.current) return;
     finishing.current = true;
@@ -85,8 +86,7 @@ export function Setup() {
     navigate("/", { replace: true });
   }, [refresh, navigate]);
 
-  // Once nothing remains (email verified AND a passkey exists, or the owner skipped
-  // to a backend-valid state), hand off.
+  // Once nothing remains (email recorded AND a passkey enrolled), hand off.
   useEffect(() => {
     if (state && !state.setup_required) void finish();
   }, [state, finish]);
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ export function Setup() {
     <AuthLayout title={t("setup_title")} subtitle={t("setup_welcome", { name: state.username })}>
       <Card>
         <CardContent className="pt-6">
-          {!state.email_verified ? (
-            <EmailStep initialEmail={state.email} onVerified={reload} />
+          {!state.email ? (
+            <EmailStep initialEmail={state.email} onRecorded={reload} />
           ) : !state.has_passkey ? (
-            <PasskeyStep onEnrolled={reload} onSkip={() => void finish()} />
+            <PasskeyStep onEnrolled={reload} />
           ) : (
             <div className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2 py-6 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
               <Loader2 className="h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
@@ -151,48 +151,31 @@ export function Setup() {
   );
 }
 
-/** EmailStep is the §B email-OTP step: send a code, then verify it. On success it
- *  calls onVerified (a status re-read) so the wizard advances to the passkey step.
- *  Mirrors the Account page's email card against the same SetupAllowed endpoints. */
+/** EmailStep is the §B setup Step 1: record the Owner's email. The bootstrap has no
+ *  SMTP, so there is no code to send — the address is stored UNVERIFIED (a later
+ *  Settings/SMTP flow verifies it). On success it calls onRecorded (a status re-read)
+ *  so the wizard advances to the passkey step. */
 function EmailStep({
   initialEmail,
-  onVerified,
+  onRecorded,
 }: {
   initialEmail: string | null;
-  onVerified: () => Promise<void>;
+  onRecorded: () => Promise<void>;
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation("auth");
   const [email, setEmail] = useState(initialEmail ?? "");
-  const [otp, setOtp] = useState("");
-  const [sent, setSent] = useState(false);
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
-  async function send(e: FormEvent) {
+  async function save(e: FormEvent) {
     e.preventDefault();
     const addr = email.trim();
     if (!addr || busy) return;
     setBusy(true);
     setError(null);
     try {
-      await api.emailStart(addr);
-      setSent(true);
-    } catch (err) {
-      setError(humanizeError(err));
-    } finally {
-      setBusy(false);
-    }
-  }
-
-  async function verify(e: FormEvent) {
-    e.preventDefault();
-    const code = otp.trim();
-    if (!code || busy) return;
-    setBusy(true);
-    setError(null);
-    try {
-      await api.emailVerify(code);
-      await onVerified(); // advances (unmounts this step) — no need to clear busy
+      await api.setEmail(addr);
+      await onRecorded(); // advances (unmounts this step) — no need to clear busy
     } catch (err) {
       setError(humanizeError(err));
       setBusy(false);
@@ -205,8 +188,7 @@ function EmailStep({
         <Mail className="h-4 w-4 text-primary" /> {t("setup_email_step")}
       </div>
       <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{t("setup_email_desc")}</p>
-      {!sent ? (
-        <form onSubmit={send} className="space-y-3">
+      <form onSubmit={save} className="space-y-3">
         <div className="space-y-2">
           <Label htmlFor="setup-email">{t("email_address")}</Label>
           <Input
@@ -229,72 +211,26 @@ function EmailStep({
           {busy ? (
             <>
               <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-                {t("sending_otp")}
+              {t("saving")}
             </>
           ) : (
-              t("send_otp")
+            t("setup_email_save")
           )}
         </Button>
       </form>
-      ) : (
-        <form onSubmit={verify} className="space-y-3">
-          <p className="text-xs text-emerald-600 dark:text-emerald-400">
-            {t("setup_otp_sent", { email: email.trim() })}
-          </p>
-          <div className="space-y-2">
-            <Label htmlFor="setup-otp">{t("otp_code")}</Label>
-            <Input
-              id="setup-otp"
-              value={otp}
-              onChange={(e) => setOtp(e.target.value)}
-              inputMode="numeric"
-              autoComplete="one-time-code"
-              maxLength={6}
-              className="font-mono text-center tracking-[0.3em]"
-              disabled={busy}
-              autoFocus
-              aria-invalid={error ? true : undefined}
-            />
-          </div>
-          {error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p>}
-          <Button type="submit" className="w-full" disabled={busy || otp.trim().length !== 6}>
-            {busy ? (
-              <>
-                <Loader2 className="mr-2 h-4 w-4 animate-spin" />
-                {t("binding")}
-              </>
-            ) : (
-              t("setup_verify_continue")
-            )}
-          </Button>
-          <button
-            type="button"
-            onClick={() => {
-              setSent(false);
-              setOtp("");
-              setError(null);
-            }}
-            disabled={busy}
-            className="w-full text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-primary disabled:opacity-50"
-          >
-            {t("setup_change_email")}
-          </button>
-        </form>
-      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
 
 /** PasskeyStep enrolls the Owner's first passkey against the SetupAllowed register
- *  endpoints — the same ceremony as the Account page. Email is already verified at
- *  this point (backend lockdown lifted), so "skip" is a safe escape if the
- *  authenticator misbehaves: the owner lands in the console and can enroll later. */
+ *  endpoints — the same ceremony as the Account page. Passkey is the Owner's ONLY
+ *  login credential before SMTP exists (email-OTP login refuses admins; op-login
+ *  needs SMTP + a second admin), so it is mandatory: there is no skip, and the
+ *  backend lockdown lifts only once a passkey is enrolled. */
 function PasskeyStep({
   onEnrolled,
-  onSkip,
 }: {
   onEnrolled: () => Promise<void>;
-  onSkip: () => void;
 }) {
   const { t } = useTranslation("auth");
   const [busy, setBusy] = useState(false);
@@ -368,14 +304,6 @@ function PasskeyStep({
           </>
         )}
       </Button>
-      <button
-        type="button"
-        onClick={onSkip}
-        disabled={busy}
-        className="w-full text-center text-xs text-muted-foreground hover:text-primary disabled:opacity-50"
-      >
-        {t("setup_skip")}
-      </button>
     </div>
   );
 }