diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
index e832638..b63e2b8 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/NotificationCategorizer.cs
@@ -51,16 +51,22 @@ public class NotificationCategorizer
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Classify a notification using the layered pipeline.
+    /// When <paramref name="preferStructuredCategories"/> is true (default),
+    /// structured metadata (Intent, Channel) is checked first.
+    /// When false, classification starts from user-defined rules then keyword fallback.
     /// </summary>
-    public (string title, string type) Classify(OpenClawNotification notification, IReadOnlyList<UserNotificationRule>? userRules = null)
+    public (string title, string type) Classify(OpenClawNotification notification, IReadOnlyList<UserNotificationRule>? userRules = null, bool preferStructuredCategories = true)
     {
-        // 1. Structured metadata: Intent
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Intent) && IntentMap.TryGetValue(notification.Intent, out var intentResult))
-            return intentResult;
+        if (preferStructuredCategories)
+        {
+            // 1. Structured metadata: Intent
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Intent) && IntentMap.TryGetValue(notification.Intent, out var intentResult))
+                return intentResult;
 
-        // 2. Structured metadata: Channel
-        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Channel) && ChannelMap.TryGetValue(notification.Channel, out var channelResult))
-            return channelResult;
+            // 2. Structured metadata: Channel
+            if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(notification.Channel) && ChannelMap.TryGetValue(notification.Channel, out var channelResult))
+                return channelResult;
+        }
 
         // 3. User-defined rules (pattern match on title + message)
         if (userRules is { Count: > 0 })
diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
index f47a984..ebe8e34 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Shared/OpenClawGatewayClient.cs
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ private enum SignatureTokenMode
     private bool _operatorReadScopeUnavailable;
     private bool _pairingRequiredAwaitingApproval;
     private IReadOnlyList<UserNotificationRule>? _userRules;
+    private bool _preferStructuredCategories = true;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Controls whether structured notification metadata (Intent, Channel) takes priority
+    /// over keyword-based classification. Call after construction and whenever settings change.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void SetPreferStructuredCategories(bool value) => _preferStructuredCategories = value;
 
     private void ResetUnsupportedMethodFlags()
     {
@@ -2005,7 +2012,7 @@ private void EmitNotification(string text)
         {
             Message = text.Length > 200 ? text[..200] + "…" : text
         };
-        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, _userRules);
+        var (title, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, _userRules, _preferStructuredCategories);
         notification.Title = title;
         notification.Type = type;
         NotificationReceived?.Invoke(this, notification);
diff --git a/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs b/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
index 897358b..b895961 100644
--- a/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/OpenClaw.Tray.WinUI/App.xaml.cs
@@ -1103,6 +1103,7 @@ private void InitializeGatewayClient()
 
         _gatewayClient = new OpenClawGatewayClient(_settings.GetEffectiveGatewayUrl(), _settings.Token, new AppLogger());
         _gatewayClient.SetUserRules(_settings.UserRules.Count > 0 ? _settings.UserRules : null);
+        _gatewayClient.SetPreferStructuredCategories(_settings.PreferStructuredCategories);
         _gatewayClient.StatusChanged += OnConnectionStatusChanged;
         _gatewayClient.ActivityChanged += OnActivityChanged;
         _gatewayClient.NotificationReceived += OnNotificationReceived;
diff --git a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
index bb2354c..556c3c3 100644
--- a/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
+++ b/tests/OpenClaw.Shared.Tests/NotificationCategorizerTests.cs
@@ -272,6 +272,52 @@ public void PipelineOrder_Intent_Channel_UserRules_Keywords()
         Assert.Equal("health", _categorizer.Classify(notification).type);
     }
 
+    // --- PreferStructuredCategories = false ---
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_SkipsIntent()
+    {
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification { Message = "New email notification", Intent = "build" };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_SkipsChannel()
+    {
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification { Message = "Check your email", Channel = "calendar" };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_UserRulesStillApply()
+    {
+        var rules = new List<UserNotificationRule>
+        {
+            new() { Pattern = "invoice", Category = "email", Enabled = true }
+        };
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification { Message = "New invoice received", Intent = "urgent" };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, rules, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("email", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_False_FallsBackToKeywords()
+    {
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification { Message = "Hello world", Intent = "build", Channel = "email" };
+        var (_, type) = _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: false);
+        Assert.Equal("info", type);
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public void PreferStructuredCategories_True_Default_BehaviourUnchanged()
+    {
+        var notification = new OpenClawNotification { Message = "New email notification", Intent = "build" };
+        Assert.Equal("build", _categorizer.Classify(notification).type);
+        Assert.Equal("build", _categorizer.Classify(notification, preferStructuredCategories: true).type);
+    }
+
     // --- ClassifyByKeywords static method ---
 
     [Fact]