diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 63a42ce..6c335a9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,16 @@
 
 All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
+## [1.0.0.12] - 2026-07-07
+
+### Changed
+- `make status` no longer prints the Chrome CDP "auto-start not registered (run bin/browser-service install)" hint — Chrome boots on demand now, so an unregistered always-on service isn't a gap to flag. The `auto-start` line still shows when a launchd/systemd service *is* registered.
+
+## [1.0.0.11] - 2026-07-07
+
+### Added
+- `reply-to-post`, `stats`, and `sync-planner-persona-from-linkedin` skills now run the inline `bin/outreach-update-check` system check (service health + version check) at skill start, matching `setup-outreach` and `send-connection-request`. Skipped for `outreach-uninstall` (about to tear down) and `conversation-planner` (scheduler-driven, not user-invoked).
+
 ## [1.0.0.10] - 2026-07-07
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 6f1dca2..6ebe80a 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.0.0.10
+1.0.0.12
diff --git a/cron/system_status.py b/cron/system_status.py
index 97b8031..d4f2012 100644
--- a/cron/system_status.py
+++ b/cron/system_status.py
@@ -126,8 +126,6 @@ def format_browser_lines() -> list[str]:
         lines.append(
             f"    auto-start  {browser.get('service_backend')}  ({browser.get('service_unit_path')})"
         )
-    elif not browser.get("auto_start_on_reboot"):
-        lines.append("    auto-start  not registered (run bin/browser-service install)")
     return lines
 
 
diff --git a/outreach/skills/reply-to-post/SKILL.md b/outreach/skills/reply-to-post/SKILL.md
index c6a911e..3003c59 100644
--- a/outreach/skills/reply-to-post/SKILL.md
+++ b/outreach/skills/reply-to-post/SKILL.md
@@ -33,6 +33,20 @@ If `mcp__linkedin__*` tools are not registered in the current session, **stop an
 operator the LinkedIn MCP is not registered** (fix: run `./install.sh` or
 `make claude-install`). Do **not** pick up a different browser tool as a fallback.
 
+## System check (run first)
+
+Before posting, check service health and for a newer ebase version:
+
+```bash
+bin/outreach-update-check 2>/dev/null || true
+```
+
+Follow the inline flow in skill **`outreach-upgrade`** for every line printed:
+`SERVICE_DOWN <service> <url>` (inform the user, non-blocking), then
+`UPGRADE_AVAILABLE` (ask to upgrade), `UPGRADED`/`JUST_UPGRADED` (log and
+continue), or `UP_TO_DATE`/empty (continue silently).
+Do not block on network failures.
+
 ## Test and fixture data (do not corrupt)
 
 - Do **not** edit or write under `tests/` or `tests/fixtures/` when logging or updating pipeline state.
diff --git a/outreach/skills/stats/SKILL.md b/outreach/skills/stats/SKILL.md
index abac2b9..7027931 100644
--- a/outreach/skills/stats/SKILL.md
+++ b/outreach/skills/stats/SKILL.md
@@ -7,6 +7,20 @@ description: Show outreach performance — connection funnel, reply rates, seque
 
 Render a funnel dashboard from the `get_outreach_stats` MCP tool. One tool call, no loops — all aggregation happens server-side.
 
+## System check (run first)
+
+Before pulling stats, check service health and for a newer ebase version:
+
+```bash
+bin/outreach-update-check 2>/dev/null || true
+```
+
+Follow the inline flow in skill **`outreach-upgrade`** for every line printed:
+`SERVICE_DOWN <service> <url>` (inform the user, non-blocking), then
+`UPGRADE_AVAILABLE` (ask to upgrade), `UPGRADED`/`JUST_UPGRADED` (log and
+continue), or `UP_TO_DATE`/empty (continue silently).
+Do not block on network failures.
+
 ## Inputs
 
 - `since` (optional) — `YYYY-MM-DD`. If the user gives a relative date ("last week", "since Monday"), resolve it to an absolute date before calling the tool.
diff --git a/outreach/skills/sync-planner-persona-from-linkedin/SKILL.md b/outreach/skills/sync-planner-persona-from-linkedin/SKILL.md
index a83a384..de2ef51 100644
--- a/outreach/skills/sync-planner-persona-from-linkedin/SKILL.md
+++ b/outreach/skills/sync-planner-persona-from-linkedin/SKILL.md
@@ -38,6 +38,20 @@ operator the LinkedIn MCP is not registered** (fix: run `./install.sh` or
 
 ---
 
+## System check (run first)
+
+Before syncing, check service health and for a newer ebase version:
+
+```bash
+bin/outreach-update-check 2>/dev/null || true
+```
+
+Follow the inline flow in skill **`outreach-upgrade`** for every line printed:
+`SERVICE_DOWN <service> <url>` (inform the user, non-blocking), then
+`UPGRADE_AVAILABLE` (ask to upgrade), `UPGRADED`/`JUST_UPGRADED` (log and
+continue), or `UP_TO_DATE`/empty (continue silently).
+Do not block on network failures.
+
 ## When to use
 
 - First-time persona setup before running **conversation-planner**
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7dc2159..9d2d8dc 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "ebase"
-version = "1.0.0.10"
+version = "1.0.0.12"
 description = "LinkedIn recruiting outreach that runs inside Claude Code"
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 0b2baa4..591b840 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ wheels = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "ebase"
-version = "1.0.0.10"
+version = "1.0.0.12"
 source = { virtual = "." }
 dependencies = [
     { name = "certifi" },