diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3507ee2..815caec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -194,7 +194,10 @@ nomarchy-what-changed  # plain-language last rebuild (system + desktop; --summar
 `~/.nomarchy` is **your machine flake** (`system.nix` / `home.nix`). Newer
 Nomarchy code arrives when `flake.lock` updates the `nomarchy` input
 (`nomarchy-pull`), not by `git pull` of that directory (many installs have
-no remote there — only local commits from auto-commit).
+no remote there — only local commits from auto-commit). With auto-commit
+on (menu: **System › Auto-commit**), all three commands above also sweep
+any pending hand edits into a commit before they switch, so
+`git -C ~/.nomarchy log` mirrors your generations.
 
 | When | Run |
 |---|---|
diff --git a/agent/JOURNAL.md b/agent/JOURNAL.md
index 66840df..22f2be1 100644
--- a/agent/JOURNAL.md
+++ b/agent/JOURNAL.md
@@ -19,6 +19,28 @@ Template:
 
 ---
 
+## 2026-07-12 — auto-commit sweep before pull/rebuild/home (interactive)
+- **Task:** Bernardo's request (no BACKLOG item): with autoCommit on,
+  hand edits to `~/.nomarchy` (his had 4) stayed forever-dirty —
+  theme-sync's commit is pathspec-limited to theme-state.json by design.
+- **Did:** New internal `nomarchy-autocommit` in nomarchy-lifecycle:
+  live-reads `settings.autoCommit`, commits *everything* dirty with
+  message `nomarchy: auto-commit before <label>` + file list in the
+  body; called (`|| true`, never blocks) at the top of nomarchy-pull /
+  -rebuild / -home. Exposed as `passthru.autocommit`; package exported.
+  Docs/comments swept: README, RECOVERY, ROADMAP ✓ entry, rofi toggle
+  text, control-center prompt, theme-sync docstring.
+- **Verified:** V1+ — `nix flake check --no-build` green; new permanent
+  `checks.lifecycle-autocommit` builds (real binary, sandbox repos:
+  sweep/clean/off/non-repo); end-to-end on a *copy* of the real
+  ~/.nomarchy via built nomarchy-rebuild with stubbed sudo/rebuild —
+  the 4 real dirty files landed in one commit, tree clean. No VM boot:
+  no session-visible surface. Real-machine confirmation lands after the
+  next nomarchy-pull picks up this rev.
+- **Pending:** nothing queued; Bernardo's actual ~/.nomarchy still has
+  its 4 uncommitted files until his next pull/rebuild with the new rev.
+- **Next suggestion:** back to BACKLOG (#89 slice 3, Signal pixmap).
+
 ## 2026-07-12 — #89 slice 2: EasyEffects tray icon themed monochrome (b98248f)
 - **Task:** BACKLOG #89 slice 2 — EasyEffects SNI shows Papirus' full-
   colour blue equaliser, clashing with the monochrome tray.
diff --git a/docs/RECOVERY.md b/docs/RECOVERY.md
index e613292..598e3a6 100644
--- a/docs/RECOVERY.md
+++ b/docs/RECOVERY.md
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ boreal` (or any preset). If a switch failed halfway, the state file is written
 `home-manager switch --flake ~/.nomarchy` (or `nomarchy-home`).
 
 Your flake checkout is a git repo, and with auto-commit enabled every
-apply is a commit: `git -C ~/.nomarchy log` to see what changed,
-`git revert` the culprit, then `nomarchy-home`.
+apply is a commit — and every `nomarchy-pull`/`-rebuild`/`-home` first
+sweeps pending hand edits into one, so history mirrors your generations:
+`git -C ~/.nomarchy log` to see what changed, `git revert` the culprit,
+then `nomarchy-home`.
 
 ## 2. The desktop won't start at all
 
diff --git a/docs/ROADMAP.md b/docs/ROADMAP.md
index 483ad48..408a317 100644
--- a/docs/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/docs/ROADMAP.md
@@ -960,6 +960,18 @@ Design/decision records and a running log of shipped work (items marked
   `get` now prints booleans JSON-style (`true`, not Python's `True`) —
   which also un-sticks the System menu's "Auto timezone (on/off)" label,
   whose `= true` comparison could never match before.
+- ✓ **Auto-commit sweep before switch (2026-07-12):** the pathspec limit
+  above left hand edits (system.nix/home.nix, lock bumps) forever-dirty
+  even with `settings.autoCommit` on. Now `nomarchy-pull`/`-rebuild`/
+  `-home` run `nomarchy-autocommit` (internal, in nomarchy-lifecycle)
+  first: same live-read flag, commits *everything* dirty with an honest
+  `nomarchy: auto-commit before <pull|rebuild|home switch>` message whose
+  body lists the swept files — so `git log` mirrors the generation list
+  and hand edits still never ride a settings-named commit. Same fallback
+  identity; never fatal (`|| true` at the call sites — a git hiccup can't
+  block a rebuild); before the ff-only pull, it also un-dirties the tree.
+  Guarded by `checks.lifecycle-autocommit` (sandbox-repo round trip of
+  the real binary: sweep, no-op on clean/off/non-repo).
 - **"nomarchy" control center:** a single TUI/GUI front-end over the common
   toggles — theme, power profile, opt-in services, display, DND — built on
   the same `nomarchy-theme-sync` / `nomarchy.*` surface the menu already
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index a508b11..3532111 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@
         # Overlay tools exported for `nix build .#nomarchy-doctor` etc.
         # (maintainer/CI convenience — modules install them via the overlay).
         nomarchy-doctor = pkgs.nomarchy-doctor;
+        nomarchy-lifecycle = pkgs.nomarchy-lifecycle;
         nomarchy-control-center = pkgs.nomarchy-control-center;
         nomarchy-battery-notify = pkgs.nomarchy-battery-notify;
         nomarchy-first-boot = pkgs.nomarchy-first-boot;
@@ -259,6 +260,55 @@
               touch $out
             '';
 
+          # The lifecycle "sweep before switch": with settings.autoCommit
+          # on, nomarchy-pull/-rebuild/-home first commit every dirty file
+          # in the machine flake (theme-sync's own auto_commit stays
+          # pathspec-limited to theme-state.json). Exercises the real
+          # helper binary against sandbox repos: flag on → one commit,
+          # clean tree, fallback identity, file list in the body; clean
+          # tree / flag off / no repo → untouched, never an error.
+          lifecycle-autocommit = pkgs.runCommand "nomarchy-lifecycle-autocommit"
+            { nativeBuildInputs = [ pkgs.git ]; }
+            ''
+              set -eu
+              tool=${pkgs.nomarchy-lifecycle.autocommit}/bin/nomarchy-autocommit
+              export HOME=$PWD   # no global git config → fallback identity
+
+              mkdir flake && git -C flake init -q
+              printf '{ "settings": { "autoCommit": true } }' > flake/theme-state.json
+              echo base > flake/system.nix
+              git -C flake add -A
+              git -C flake -c user.name=T -c user.email=t@t commit -qm init
+
+              echo edit >> flake/system.nix
+              echo lock > flake/flake.lock
+              NOMARCHY_PATH=$PWD/flake $tool rebuild
+              [ -z "$(git -C flake status --porcelain)" ] \
+                || { echo "FAIL: tree still dirty after sweep"; exit 1; }
+              git -C flake log -1 --format=%s \
+                | grep -qx 'nomarchy: auto-commit before rebuild'
+              git -C flake log -1 --format=%ae | grep -qx 'nomarchy@localhost'
+              git -C flake log -1 --format=%b  | grep -q  'flake.lock'
+
+              # Clean tree → no new commit
+              NOMARCHY_PATH=$PWD/flake $tool rebuild
+              [ "$(git -C flake rev-list --count HEAD)" = 2 ]
+
+              # Flag off → dirty stays dirty, no commit
+              printf '{ "settings": { "autoCommit": false } }' > flake/theme-state.json
+              echo more >> flake/system.nix
+              NOMARCHY_PATH=$PWD/flake $tool rebuild
+              [ "$(git -C flake rev-list --count HEAD)" = 2 ]
+              [ -n "$(git -C flake status --porcelain)" ]
+
+              # Not a git repo → silent no-op, exit 0
+              mkdir plain
+              printf '{ "settings": { "autoCommit": true } }' > plain/theme-state.json
+              NOMARCHY_PATH=$PWD/plain $tool rebuild
+
+              touch $out
+            '';
+
           # Installer hardware DB ↔ nixos-hardware (item 49): every module
           # name the DB table and the CPU/GPU/chassis autodetect reference
           # must exist in the PINNED nixos-hardware.nixosModules — a lock
diff --git a/modules/home/rofi.nix b/modules/home/rofi.nix
index ea67f67..1aeae1b 100644
--- a/modules/home/rofi.nix
+++ b/modules/home/rofi.nix
@@ -806,7 +806,9 @@ ${themeRows}
       autocommit)
         # Toggle opt-in auto-commit: every menu/theme mutation also commits
         # theme-state.json (that file only) in the downstream flake, so
-        # settings history is `git log`. Nothing in Nix consumes the flag —
+        # settings history is `git log`; nomarchy-pull/-rebuild/-home
+        # additionally sweep everything else dirty (hand edits, lock bumps)
+        # into a commit first. Nothing in Nix consumes the flag —
         # the tool reads the live state on each write — so the toggle is
         # instant, no rebuild. The off-write commits too (the tool fires
         # when the flag was on before OR after), keeping history consistent.
@@ -815,7 +817,7 @@ ${themeRows}
           notify-send "Auto-commit" "Off — menu changes stay uncommitted in your flake."
         else
           nomarchy-theme-sync --quiet set settings.autoCommit true --no-switch
-          notify-send "Auto-commit" "On — each change commits theme-state.json in your flake."
+          notify-send "Auto-commit" "On — menu changes commit; rebuilds sweep pending edits in too."
         fi
         exit 0 ;;
 
diff --git a/pkgs/nomarchy-control-center/nomarchy-control-center.sh b/pkgs/nomarchy-control-center/nomarchy-control-center.sh
index 66bd624..5891d87 100644
--- a/pkgs/nomarchy-control-center/nomarchy-control-center.sh
+++ b/pkgs/nomarchy-control-center/nomarchy-control-center.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ function first_boot() {
         nomarchy-theme-sync apply "$chosen_theme"
     fi
     
-    if gum confirm "Enable auto-commit for settings?"; then
+    if gum confirm "Enable auto-commit for your config? (settings changes + a sweep of pending edits before each rebuild)"; then
         set_state "settings.autoCommit" "true"
     else
         set_state "settings.autoCommit" "false"
diff --git a/pkgs/nomarchy-lifecycle/default.nix b/pkgs/nomarchy-lifecycle/default.nix
index aef5a28..f5f37f3 100644
--- a/pkgs/nomarchy-lifecycle/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/nomarchy-lifecycle/default.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,41 @@ let
     flake="''${NOMARCHY_PATH:-$HOME/.nomarchy}"
   '';
 
+  # Opt-in sweep (settings.autoCommit — the same flag theme-sync honours):
+  # commit EVERYTHING dirty in the machine flake before a pull/rebuild/
+  # home switch, so hand edits to system.nix/home.nix and lock bumps land
+  # in history at the moment they become live — `git log` mirrors the
+  # generation list. Complements nomarchy-theme-sync's auto_commit, which
+  # is pathspec-limited to theme-state.json on menu writes precisely so
+  # half-finished hand edits never ride a settings-named commit; here the
+  # sweep is the point, and the commit body lists what was swept. Never
+  # fatal — callers `|| true` so a git hiccup can't block a rebuild. Not
+  # in the symlinkJoin paths (internal; callers use the store path) but
+  # exposed as passthru.autocommit for checks.lifecycle-autocommit.
+  nomarchy-autocommit = writeShellScriptBin "nomarchy-autocommit" ''
+    ${preamble "nomarchy-autocommit"}
+    label="''${1:-rebuild}"
+    [ -d "$flake/.git" ] || exit 0
+    command -v git >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit 0
+    flag=$(${jq}/bin/jq -r '.settings.autoCommit // false' \
+             "$flake/theme-state.json" 2>/dev/null || true)
+    [ "$flag" = "true" ] || exit 0
+    dirty=$(git -C "$flake" status --porcelain || true)
+    [ -n "$dirty" ] || exit 0
+    g=(git -C "$flake")
+    if [ -z "$("''${g[@]}" config user.email 2>/dev/null || true)" ]; then
+      g+=(-c user.name=Nomarchy -c user.email=nomarchy@localhost)
+    fi
+    "''${g[@]}" add -A
+    if "''${g[@]}" commit --quiet -m "nomarchy: auto-commit before $label" \
+         -m "$dirty"; then
+      echo "nomarchy-autocommit: committed pending flake changes before $label:"
+      echo "$dirty" | sed 's/^/  /'
+    else
+      echo "nomarchy-autocommit: commit failed — continuing without it" >&2
+    fi
+  '';
+
   nomarchy-pull = writeShellScriptBin "nomarchy-pull" ''
     ${preamble "nomarchy-pull"}
     if [ ! -e "$flake/flake.nix" ]; then
@@ -22,6 +57,9 @@ let
       echo "  Set NOMARCHY_PATH or put your machine flake in ~/.nomarchy." >&2
       exit 1
     fi
+    # With settings.autoCommit on, sweep pending hand edits into a commit
+    # first — also keeps the ff-only pull below safe on a dirty tree.
+    ${nomarchy-autocommit}/bin/nomarchy-autocommit pull || true
     # Optional: pull *your* machine config only if this checkout tracks a
     # remote. Distro updates come from the nomarchy flake *input* below —
     # many installs have no upstream on ~/.nomarchy (local auto-commits).
@@ -52,6 +90,9 @@ let
       echo "nomarchy-rebuild: no flake.nix at $flake" >&2
       exit 1
     fi
+    # With settings.autoCommit on, sweep pending hand edits (system.nix,
+    # lock bumps, …) into a commit so `git log` mirrors the generations.
+    ${nomarchy-autocommit}/bin/nomarchy-autocommit rebuild || true
     before=$(readlink -f /run/current-system)
     log=$(mktemp)
     trap 'rm -f "$log"' EXIT
@@ -94,6 +135,9 @@ let
       echo "nomarchy-home: no flake.nix at $flake" >&2
       exit 1
     fi
+    # With settings.autoCommit on, sweep pending hand edits (home.nix, …)
+    # into a commit so `git log` mirrors the generations.
+    ${nomarchy-autocommit}/bin/nomarchy-autocommit "home switch" || true
     # Snapshot the active HM generation before the switch so we can nvd it.
     hm_before=""
     for d in \
@@ -164,6 +208,7 @@ symlinkJoin {
     home-update
     nomarchy-what-changed
   ];
+  passthru.autocommit = nomarchy-autocommit;
   meta = {
     description = "Nomarchy machine-flake lifecycle: pull, rebuild, home";
     mainProgram = "nomarchy-pull";
diff --git a/pkgs/nomarchy-theme-sync/nomarchy-theme-sync.py b/pkgs/nomarchy-theme-sync/nomarchy-theme-sync.py
index 7c46d4a..d700095 100644
--- a/pkgs/nomarchy-theme-sync/nomarchy-theme-sync.py
+++ b/pkgs/nomarchy-theme-sync/nomarchy-theme-sync.py
@@ -143,7 +143,10 @@ def auto_commit(message: str) -> None:
     fire this when the flag is on before OR after the write, so the
     disable-toggle itself lands in history instead of staying dirty.
     `bg` is deliberately excluded (runtime wallpaper churn); the wallpaper
-    path rides along with the next apply/set commit."""
+    path rides along with the next apply/set commit. The rest of a dirty
+    tree (hand edits, lock bumps) is swept by nomarchy-lifecycle's
+    nomarchy-autocommit right before a pull/rebuild/home switch — same
+    flag, honest message — so it never rides a settings-named commit."""
     if not (FLAKE_DIR / ".git").exists() or shutil.which("git") is None:
         return
     git = ["git", "-C", str(FLAKE_DIR)]