diff --git a/setup/channels/discord.ts b/setup/channels/discord.ts
index c25f2decc..1dec8e008 100644
--- a/setup/channels/discord.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/discord.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import k from 'kleur';
 
 import * as setupLog from '../logs.js';
 import { brightSelect } from '../lib/bright-select.js';
-import { confirmThenOpen } from '../lib/browser.js';
+import { confirmThenOpen, formatNoteLink } from '../lib/browser.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
 import { ensureAnswer, fail, runQuietChild } from '../lib/runner.js';
 import { accentGreen, brandBody, fmtDuration, note } from '../lib/theme.js';
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ async function walkThroughBotCreation(): Promise<void> {
       '  3. On the same tab, enable "Message Content Intent"',
       '     (under Privileged Gateway Intents)',
       '',
-      k.dim(url),
+      formatNoteLink(url),
     ].join('\n'),
     'Create a Discord bot',
   );
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ async function walkThroughServerCreation(): Promise<void> {
       '  2. Choose "Create My Own" → "For me and my friends"',
       '  3. Give it any name (e.g. "NanoClaw")',
       '',
-      k.dim(url),
+      formatNoteLink(url),
     ].join('\n'),
     'Create a Discord server',
   );
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ async function promptInviteBot(
       '  1. Pick any server you\'re in (a personal one is fine)',
       '  2. Click "Authorize"',
       '',
-      k.dim(url),
+      formatNoteLink(url),
     ].join('\n'),
     'Add bot to a server',
   );
diff --git a/setup/channels/slack.ts b/setup/channels/slack.ts
index 340eabc09..03cbf4656 100644
--- a/setup/channels/slack.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/slack.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
 import k from 'kleur';
 
 import * as setupLog from '../logs.js';
-import { confirmThenOpen } from '../lib/browser.js';
+import { confirmThenOpen, formatNoteLink } from '../lib/browser.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
 import { ensureAnswer, fail, runQuietChild } from '../lib/runner.js';
 import { accentGreen, fmtDuration, note, wrapForGutter } from '../lib/theme.js';
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ async function walkThroughAppCreation(): Promise<void> {
       '  4. Basic Information → copy the "Signing Secret"',
       '  5. Install to Workspace → copy the "Bot User OAuth Token" (xoxb-…)',
       '',
-      k.dim(SLACK_APPS_URL),
+      formatNoteLink(SLACK_APPS_URL),
     ].join('\n'),
     'Create a Slack app',
   );
diff --git a/setup/channels/telegram.ts b/setup/channels/telegram.ts
index ad749eb98..7130f8b5f 100644
--- a/setup/channels/telegram.ts
+++ b/setup/channels/telegram.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
 import k from 'kleur';
 
 import * as setupLog from '../logs.js';
-import { confirmThenOpen } from '../lib/browser.js';
+import { confirmThenOpen, formatNoteLink } from '../lib/browser.js';
 import { askOperatorRole } from '../lib/role-prompt.js';
 import {
   type Block,
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export async function runTelegramChannel(displayName: string): Promise<void> {
     [
       `Opening @${botUsername} in Telegram so it's ready when the pairing code shows up.`,
       '',
-      k.dim(botUrl),
+      formatNoteLink(botUrl),
     ].join('\n'),
     'Open Telegram',
   );
diff --git a/setup/lib/browser.ts b/setup/lib/browser.ts
index fc6eb17d7..4fbcbd7c3 100644
--- a/setup/lib/browser.ts
+++ b/setup/lib/browser.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import { spawn } from 'child_process';
 
 import * as p from '@clack/prompts';
+import k from 'kleur';
 
 import { isHeadless } from '../platform.js';
 import { ensureAnswer } from './runner.js';
@@ -38,6 +39,21 @@ export function openUrl(url: string): void {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Format a URL for display inside a setup `note(...)` card. On
+ * GUI devices the URL renders dim — it's a fallback in case the
+ * auto-open misses, and `confirmThenOpen` is doing the heavy
+ * lifting of getting the user there. On headless devices the
+ * URL becomes the user's only path forward, so we surface it
+ * with a "Get started:" label and full-strength text — copy-
+ * pasting onto another device is the actual action, not an
+ * incidental reference.
+ */
+export function formatNoteLink(url: string): string {
+  if (isHeadless()) return `Get started: ${url}`;
+  return k.dim(url);
+}
+
 /**
  * Gate a browser-open on a confirm so the user is ready for their browser
  * to take focus. Proceeds on cancel as well — the user can always copy the